SANAA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, on Thursday said his group launched eight operations with missiles and drones against cargo ships this week.

"During the week, eight operations were carried out with 15 missiles and drones in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean," he said in a televised speech aired by his group's al-Masirah TV, adding one of the operations targeted the Mediterranean.

There have been no reports of casualties or damage from any shipping companies so far.

Earlier in the day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a missile attack impacted the water near a cargo ship transiting the Red Sea, some 93 nautical miles south of Yemen's Hodeidah port city, saying no reports of crew casualties or ship damage were received.

The Houthi group, who controlled the port city, has yet to comment on the incident.

The Houthis began last November to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen to deter the group. However, the Houthis, in retaliation, have subsequently expanded their attacks to include U.S. and British ships. Enditem

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