Houthi rebels launched a missile, targeting a U.S.-owned ship near Yemen’s coast in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.
This occurred shortly after they fired an anti-ship cruise missile at an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The Gibraltar Eagle was the ship affected, and the attack, claimed by the Houthis, has heightened tensions in the Red Sea following American-led strikes on the rebels. The attack disrupted global shipping, especially amidst Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, impacting a vital corridor connecting Asian and Middle East energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal leading to Europe.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the attack took place about 110 miles southeast of Aden. The ship’s captain confirmed that the “port side of the vessel was hit from above by a missile.” Private security firms identified the vessel as the Eagle Gibraltar, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier. The U.S. military’s Central Command acknowledged the strike, stating that the ship sustained limited damage, and there were no injuries reported.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, declaring that all American and British ships involved in aggression against Yemen are considered hostile targets. The ship, owned by Eagle Bulk Shipping, based in Stamford, Connecticut, reported limited damage to a cargo hold but remains stable and is leaving the area. Satellite-tracking data revealed that the Eagle Gibraltar was heading for the Suez Canal but rapidly changed course during the attack.
Central Command detected a separate anti-ship ballistic missile launch toward the southern Red Sea on Monday, which failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. The U.S. Maritime Administration issued a warning, indicating a high degree of risk to commercial vessels near Yemen, recommending that U.S. flag and U.S.-owned commercial vessels stay away from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until further notice.
The missile launch towards the American warship on Sunday marked the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since American-led strikes began against the rebels, responding to weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthi attack targeted the USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the southern Red Sea. The missile, fired from Hodeida, a port city held by the Houthis, did not result in injuries or damage.
President Joe Biden has stated that he won’t hesitate to take further measures to protect people and international commerce. The U.S.-led strikes on Friday targeted 28 locations, hitting over 60 targets with cruise missiles and bombs. The extent of damage from these strikes, as acknowledged by the Houthis, is unclear. U.S. forces followed up with a strike on a Houthi radar site on Saturday.
Since November, the rebels have targeted ships in the Red Sea, citing retaliation for Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. However, their attacks have often targeted vessels with unclear or no links to Israel, endangering global trade routes. The escalating situation in the Red Sea has raised concerns about wider conflicts in the Middle East, impacting shipping for Qatar, a major natural gas supplier.
Saudi Arabia, supporting the Yemeni government-in-exile in conflict with the Houthis, distanced itself from the attacks to maintain delicate relations with Iran and the ceasefire in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen since 2015 has resulted in significant casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis.
The American military did not explicitly confirm that the fire targeted the Laboon, maintaining a pattern of not specifying targets. However, U.S. sailors involved have received combat ribbons, a recognition reserved for those facing active hostilities with an enemy force.
