In a concerning incident on Monday, Houthi rebels targeted a US-owned cargo ship with a missile, as reported by the US military. The attacked vessel, Marshall Islands-flagged Gibraltar Eagle, suffered a fire but remained seaworthy with no reported casualties. This comes amidst heightened tensions in the region after previous attacks on shipping led to US and British strikes.
The US Central Command attributed the attack to Iranian-backed Houthi militants, stating that an anti-ship ballistic missile was fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The ship, despite the damage, continued its journey. A Houthi military and a Yemeni government source confirmed the firing of three missiles on Monday.
In a related incident on the previous day, a Houthi cruise missile targeting a US destroyer was successfully intercepted. The attacks follow recent strikes by the United States and Britain on multiple sites in rebel-held Yemen.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran, consider themselves part of the “axis of resistance” against Israel. They claim their attacks on Red Sea shipping are in solidarity with the ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza and Israel.
Around 12 percent of global trade passes through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the rebel attacks have disrupted trade flows in the region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported the recent attack, emphasizing that the vessel was hit from above by a missile.
Analysts speculate a potential shift in Houthi strategy, redirecting attention to vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. Despite warnings and the initiation of Operation Prosperity Guardian by the US to protect maritime traffic, Houthi attacks persist, prompting concerns about the security of this crucial waterway.
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