US says ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled area of Yemen at container ship

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - A ballistic missile was fired Thursday from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen toward the international shipping lane north of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the US military said.

"There were no injuries or damage. Following the missile launch, the M/V Maersk Gibraltar was hailed by the Houthis, who threatened further missile attacks. The M/V Maersk Gibraltar is a Hong Kong-flagged cargo container vessel," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

While the incident did not involve US forces, CENTCOM said it will continue to closely monitor the situation.

"These attacks continue to threaten international maritime security," it added.

Last week, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington was holding talks with its allies on establishing a "maritime task force" to ensure "safe passage of ships in the Red Sea."

The announcement came amid a string of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea reportedly traveling toward Israel carried out by Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi group.

Previously, a Houthi spokesman said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned all shipping companies to avoid dealing with Israeli ports.

The group’s operations against vessels coincide with Israel’s attacks on Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas.