Yemen's Houthis hit US-owned container ship, no injuries - U.S Centcom (updated)

Eagle Bulk Shipping

15/01/2024 14:25

(Adds details throughout)
    By Ahmed Elimam and Tala Ramadan
       DUBAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Houthi forces in Yemen struck
the U.S.-owned and operated container ship M/V Gibraltar Eagle
with an anti-ship ballistic missile, U.S Central Command said on
Monday, although there were no reports of injuries or
significant damage.
    The vessel's U.S.-based owner Eagle Bulk Shipping did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
    The Iran-backed Houthis who control most of Yemen's Red Sea
coast have been attacking commercial ships in the area they say
are linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports, in action they
is aimed at supporting the Palestinians in the war and Hamas in
Gaza.
    U.S. and British forces responded last week by carrying out
dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
    Earlier in the day British Maritime Security firm Ambrey
said that a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier
was reportedly struck by a missile while transiting near Yemen's
port of Aden.
        The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)
agency said that a vessel was hit from above by a missile 95
nautical miles southeast of Aden, without identifying the
vessel.
    Ambrey said three missiles were reportedly launched by the
Houthis, with two not reaching the sea and the third striking
the bulk carrier.
    Ambrey added that the impact reportedly caused a fire in a
hold, but that the bulker remained seaworthy with no injuries on
board.
    The vessel was assessed not to be Israel-affiliated,
according to Ambrey, which also assessed the attack to have
targeted U.S. interests in response to the recent strikes on
Houthi military positions.
    Later on Monday an explosion was heard near Yemen's Hodeidah
airport, residents reported. Hodeidah is some distance from
Aden, however, and it was not immediately clear what had caused
the blast.
    The Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the
west and north of Yemen, have vowed to continue attacks in the
Red Sea since the U.S and British strikes.
    The group's leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, said on Thursday
in a televised speech that any U.S. attack on Yemen would not go
without a response.
    The U.S. military said on Sunday a U.S. fighter jet shot
down an anti-ship cruise missile that the Houthis fired towards
the USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea.

 (Reporting by Ahmed Elimam and Tala Ramadan in Dubai, Jonathan
Saul in London, Mohammed Ghobari in Aden; Editing by Kirsten
Donovan, Alex Richardson and Hugh Lawson)
 ((Ahmed.Elimam@thomsonreuters.com;))