According to the New York Times, the cyberattack was part of a series of US actions in response to a drone attack that killed at least three US soldiers in Jordan. This attack is said to have been carried out by an Iraqi militia supported by Iran.
The target of the cyberattack, MV Beshad, was operating near Djibouti, which lies opposite Yemen on the other side of the strait connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, according to the source. The goal was to cut off communications with the Houthis from the ship. No further details were announced.
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, say they are attacking ships in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The New York Times reported that Sabrina Singh, spokeswoman for the US Department of Defense, declined to comment further on the matter. The newspaper pointed out that this is not the first time in recent times that the United States has used a cyber attack. On February 2, The Times wrote that other Iranian targets were attacked in a similar manner, also in retaliation for the killing of the three American soldiers.
