Houthis launched rockets towards merchant ship in Red Sea
Illustrative photo: Houthis fired missiles at a merchant ship in the Red Sea, - U.S. Central Command (freepik.com)
Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from areas controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, possibly targeting a commercial vessel, reports Reuters.
According to the U.S. Central Command report, the incident did not result in injuries or damage to either the cargo ship KOI under the Liberian flag or the coalition ships present in the area.
"The missiles impacted in the water without hitting the ship," the statement said.
On Thursday, Houthi rebels in Yemen reported that their naval forces had attacked a commercial vessel, possibly belonging to the United Kingdom, in the Red Sea. This action is part of the group's campaign to block navigation in protest against Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the explosion occurred on the ship's starboard side west of Yemen's Hodeidah.
"The vessel and crew were reported safe. It was unclear whether it was the ship targeted by the Houthis," said UKMTO.
Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
Houthis have been targeting merchant ships with ties to Israel since November 2023. The initial attacks coincided with the start of Israel's war against the Palestinian group Hamas.
In January, the terrorist organization delivered its most significant strike. U.S. and British forces repelled an attack in the Red Sea. Despite this, the group continued its assaults on merchant vessels.
The United States and Britain have repeatedly warned that if Houthi attacks persist, strikes on their military targets will be repeated.
On January 17, the United States once again designated the Houthis as a global terrorist organization.
For more details on the U.S. and British attack on the Houthis, refer to the material by RBC-Ukraine.
We also covered who the Houthis are and why they are attacking ships in the Red Sea.
