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Mattis Alleges Iran Delivered Rocket Used in Houthis’ Attack on Saudi Tanker

© REUTERS / Jonathan ErnstRetired U.S. Marine Corps General James Mattis testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to serve as defense secretary in Washington, U.S. January 12, 2017
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General James Mattis testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to serve as defense secretary in Washington, U.S. January 12, 2017 - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran has allegedly delivered a rocket, which was used by Yemen's Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, in an unsuccessful attack on a Saudi commercial ship in April, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.

“The threat to the Red Sea shipping was pretty obvious when you saw the tanker get hit by an Iranian-supplied missile to the Houthis. So the implications of this are not insignificant if we don't get this under control,” Mattis said a press briefing late on Tuesday.

A soldier walks at Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 10, 2017 - Sputnik International
UN Concerned as Saudi-Led Coalition Advances Near Port in Yemen – Spokesman
Following the April attack, the United States has already expressed concern over the incident and accused the militant group of trying to escalate the conflict in Yemen.

On April 2, the Houthis said that the attempted attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil tanker came in response to the Saudi-led coalition’s strike on the city of Hodeida which killed a dozen civilians.

Yemen has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the government headed by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi movement. Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request. Millions of Yemenis remain in need of immediate humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.

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