Houthis target US-owned container ship off coast of Yemen: CENTCOM

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Houthi group on Monday targeted a US-owned container ship off the coast of Yemen, the US military said.

"On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), 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 US Central Command said on X.

The ship, which the US military said has reported no injuries or significant damage, is continuing its journey.

The CENTCOM also said that the US Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes at around 2:00 p.m. Sanaa time.

"The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported," it said.

On Saturday, the US renewed airstrikes in Sanaa, one day after attacks were carried out by Washington and London against targets in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.

After the attacks on Friday, which resulted in five deaths and six injuries among the Houthis, the group vowed that all American and British interests have become “legitimate targets” for its forces in response to their “direct and declared aggression” against Yemen.

The Houthis have targeted vessels in the southern Red Sea and warned they will attack all Israeli-bound ships. They said the attacks are meant to support Palestinians as they face Israel's "aggression and siege" in Gaza.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.