Yemeni Houthis have announced they collaborated with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, to strike four vessels located in Israel’s Haifa port.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree revealed on a Sunday television broadcast that they launched drone attacks on two cement tankers and two cargo ships at the port the previous day due to noncompliance with a ban on docking at “ports of occupied Palestine”.

Saree also mentioned that drones were used against a Shorthorn Express ship in the Mediterranean, with both missions achieving their objectives.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported an explosion in Haifa at dawn after an air defense missile was fired towards the sea without triggering alarms. Although Israel’s military has not commented on the Houthi claim, they stated on social media platform X that a drone coming from the east had been intercepted overnight.

In another incident, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a merchant ship suffered damage from a drone attack in the Red Sea near Yemen early Sunday, without any injuries.

The vessel was about 65 nautical miles (120km) from Hodeidah port when it was hit, as per the British navy-run agency.

“A merchant ship’s Master reported being struck by an uncrewed aerial system (UAS), causing harm to the vessel. All crew members are safe, and the ship is heading to its next destination,” a bulletin from the agency said.

Authorities are investigating the attack, and another incident was reported on Sunday near Yemen’s Nishtun port, advising ships to remain cautious.

Vessels in the Red Sea have repeatedly come under attack by Iran-backed Houthis, who claim their actions support Palestinians.

On Saturday, Houthis asserted an attack on a ship in Israel, a claim denied by US Central Command (CENTCOM) as “categorically false”.

CENTCOM has conducted retaliatory strikes against Houthis due to their offensive on shipping and destroyed three Houthi nautical drones in the past 24 hours. They added that the group launched three anti-ship missiles into the Gulf of Aden, causing no injuries or significant damage.

Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi stated in June that the group's operations with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq would increase against ships docking at Israeli ports “in solidarity with Palestine”.