Missile fire struck a ship just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, according to the British military. The attack occurred approximately 110 miles southeast of Aden, according to Trade Operations, which oversees Mideast waters. The ship’s captain reported that the port side of the vessel was hit from above by a missile, but no further details about the ship or the attack were provided. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in the Mideast did not immediately comment on the incident. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have previously fired missiles in the area, have not claimed responsibility for the attack. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
In a related report, Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea on Sunday, but the missile was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet. This attack marks the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since America and its allies began strikes on the rebels last Friday, in response to repeated assaults on shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have targeted the crucial shipping corridor that connects Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal and Europe, which threatens to escalate the conflict amid Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis, a Shiite rebel group backed by Iran, seized Yemen’s capital in 2014 but have not immediately acknowledged the attack on the American destroyer. It remains unclear if the U.S. will retaliate, though President Joe Biden has stated his willingness to take further measures to protect American people and international commerce.
The attack on Sunday was aimed at the USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the southern part of the Red Sea, according to the U.S. military’s Central Command. The missile was fired from near Hodeida, a Red Sea port city controlled by the Houthis. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries or damages resulting from the attack. The U.S.-led strikes on Friday targeted 28 locations and over 60 targets, including weapon depots, radars, and command centers in remote mountain areas. The Houthi rebels have yet to reveal the extent of the damage caused by the strikes.
The attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have led to a slowdown in commercial traffic. The U.S. Navy has issued a warning to American-flagged vessels to avoid areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for 72 hours following the initial airstrikes. In response to the Houthi attacks, Saudi Arabia has sought to distance itself from any involvement to maintain its delicate balance with Iran and the cease-fire in Yemen.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea since November, claiming to avenge Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. However, many of the vessels they have attacked do not have clear links to Israel, thereby endangering global trade in the shipping route. The widening conflict in the region has raised concerns among world leaders, and even Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that the attacks on ships could escalate tensions and harm maritime security.
The situation in the region remains tense, with the attacks on shipping and the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. The United States and its allies are carefully monitoring the situation and evaluating the appropriate response to ensure the safety of their personnel and the free flow of international commerce.
