An American cargo ship was hit by a Houthi-fired missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday, a day after the rebels attacked an American destroyer in the southern Red Sea.
• Also read: US military confirms new attack against Houthis in Yemen
“At approximately 4:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT), Iran-backed Houthi fighters fired an anti-ship ballistic missile… striking the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged United States cargo ship. United,” said the US Military Middle East Command (Centcom).
“The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey,” he added.
According to the British Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO), the ship was “hit from above by a missile” southeast of the Yemeni city of Aden.
The Houthi rebels, who control large swathes of Yemen, have stepped up attacks in recent weeks on ships they suspect are linked to Israel, disrupting maritime traffic in this crucial area of global trade. They claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 7.
According to British shipping risk firm Ambrey, the ship struck off the coast of Aden was heading to the Suez Canal.
He has no connection to Israel, Ambrey reiterated, estimating that he was targeted because of his affiliation “in response to American military strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.”
The rebels have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but a Houthi military source told AFP that “three rockets” were fired from different regions in the center and south of the country, without commenting on their targets.
The U.S. military said it shot down “today an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea” that struck Yemeni territory.
In response to the increase in attacks in the Red Sea, American and British forces conducted raids on Friday against Houthi positions, which continued to carry out new attacks despite those attacks.
On Sunday, the U.S. military said it shot down a cruise missile that targeted a U.S. destroyer operating in the southern Red Sea.