Houthi rebels launched an anti-ship ballistic missile that hit a US cargo ship traversing the Red Sea on Monday, 4 pm.
According to US Central Command, “…Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship.”
The vessel named M/V Gibraltar Eagle, however, did not incur significant damage and continued its damage. The CENTCOM added that “no casualties or injuries” were obtained from the attack.
Before the attack, Yemeni rebels also fired an anti-ship ballistic missile toward Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes but failed and dropped on land in Yemen.
According to Reuters, the rebels fired a total of three missiles, but only one had reached the cargo ship. The vessel was hit from above.
Eagle Bulk Shipping, the company that operates the vessel, said in a statement: “The vessel is carrying a cargo of steel products. Eagle Bulk management is in close contact with all relevant authorities concerning this matter.”
“As a result of the impact, the vessel suffered limited damage to a cargo hold but is stable and is heading out of the area,” the firm added.
These attacks on cargo vessels began in November, Houthi militants claim this is in retaliation for Israel’s aggression in Gaza against Hamas terrorists. However, what they were targetting were vessels with no direct links to Israel, thus affecting the significant global trade route.
Yahya Sarea, a spokesperson for the Houthis, claimed responsibility for the attack and said that all US and UK vessels are considered targets.
“The American and British attack is inevitable coming, and any new attack will not remain without response and punishment,” declared Sarea.
Houthi militants have been staunch supporters of Hamas terrorists, and tens of thousands of Yemenis assembled on Friday in different cities to reaffirm this support.
On Friday, US and British navies launched a series of counterattacks against the rebels, known sites — weapon stores and radar stations, were destroyed.
British Prime Minister justified the retaliation against the militants as a “last resort” after the country had exhausted all possible diplomatic activity.
“We of course will not hesitate to protect our security where required,” exclaimed Prime Minister Sunak.
Houthi militants were not recognized as the government of Yemen, but they control significant parts of the country., including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a maritime bottleneck connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Alden. The Houthis oppose the US and Israel’s muscle-flexing in the Middle East.
