The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack that damaged a Greek-owned cargo ship, which took on water after the attack and had to be salvaged.

It happened near the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, Reuters reports.

According to the Houthi movement, the ship was so badly damaged that it was in danger of sinking after it was targeted by an unmanned surface vessel, drones and ballistic missiles.

In a post on the social media site X, the US Central Command, Centcom, also describes the incident.

It states that the Houthis’ unmanned surface vessel caused ”severe flooding and damage to the engine room” of the ship.

The vessel in question, which is Greek owned and operated, was flying the Liberian flag, according to Centcom.

This is the first time the Houthi movement has succeeded in using an unmanned surface vessel as a weapon in an attack against a ship.

The Houthi movement controls Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and most of the country’s other most densely populated areas.

The movement has been behind several attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November last year. According to the Houthis, this is in solidarity with the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.

In the attacks, the Houthis have sunk one ship, captured another and killed three sailors in a third.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said earlier Wednesday that the ship was taking on water.

A small white craft collided with the ship’s stern and an ”unknown airborne projectile” also hit the vessel, according to the UKMTO.

A Greek ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ship was hit twice and that no crew members were injured.

English edit by Kristoffer Grønbæk