DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea, causing an explosion near the vessel on Monday, but fortunately, there was no damage reported. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the incident, with the master of the ship stating that there were no injuries.
The vessel, identified as the Pinocchio and managed by a Singaporean firm, was targeted by two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the attack, according to the U.S. military’s Central Command. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree took responsibility for the attack, claiming the Pinocchio was an American ship without providing evidence.
The Houthi rebels have been carrying out a series of attacks on vessels in the region, with the goal of pressuring an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. However, recent attacks by the Houthis have shown little to no connection to the ongoing conflict in the region. This attack follows a similar incident last week in the Gulf of Aden, where a commercial ship was struck by a Houthi missile, resulting in the deaths of three crew members.
Despite efforts by the U.S. to target the Houthi rebels with airstrikes since January, the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have continued, disrupting trade routes in the crucial waterway for energy and cargo shipments between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. In response to the recent attack, U.S. forces conducted six strikes, destroying an underwater Houthi drone and 18 anti-ship missiles.
The Houthi rebels’ actions have not only targeted commercial vessels but also include attacks on cargo ships and the downing of expensive American drones. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of maritime trade in the region, as well as the escalating tensions between the Houthi rebels and the U.S. forces operating in the area.