Houthi rebels launched a missile attack targeting a British-owned tanker navigating off the western coast of Yemen on the night of Friday to Saturday. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed details of the incident earlier today.
The attack involved three anti-ship ballistic missiles fired at 17:49 GMT from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards two commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The British security agency UKMTO, which is managed by the Royal Navy, had earlier reported two consecutive attacks near Yemen's Mocha coast.
The targeted vessel, the Andromeda Star, flying under a Panamanian flag and operated out of Seychelles, reported minor damage but continued its journey unaffected. CENTCOM confirmed that there were no injuries or further damages to American, coalition, or other commercial vessels.
Since November 19, a month after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, Houthis have targeted over 100 ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea with drones and missiles. According to Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi, these vessels were either linked to Israel or headed towards its ports. He also indicated that the attacks would expand into the Indian Ocean.
These persistent attacks have compelled commercial companies to reroute around Africa, opting for a longer and costlier path. Moreover, these strikes have not only resulted in the sinking of the cargo ship Rubimar, loaded with hazardous materials, but also claimed the lives of three sailors due to a missile strike on the True Confidence, which flew the Barbadian flag and was managed by Greece.
The increased maritime attacks by the Houthis have heightened concerns about the stability of the Middle East region, especially following an Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus at the beginning of April and Tehran's retaliatory launch of over 300 drones and missiles into Israel, followed by Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites in Isfahan.
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