Yemen's Houthi group said Wednesday that they launched a missile attack on a U.S. commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, claiming a "direct hit."

The group said they targeted the vessel KOI, a container ship that was heading to Israeli ports, "in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and response to the U.S.-British aggression against Yemen," according to a statement released by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea.

Sarea said the attack was carried out with "several suitable naval missiles that directly hit the target."

He said the attack came hours after the group fired missiles at a U.S. destroyer, the USS Gravely, in the Red Sea.