Yemen's Houthi rebels launched six missiles at two merchant ships on Tuesday, February 6, causing minor damage to one of the two buildings, the Pentagon said.
These attacks join multiple others that have disrupted global shipping in recent weeks and came hours after new US strikes on the Houthis.
“Iran-backed Houthi fighters fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
,” the US military command said in a statement. -United Middle East, Centcom.
Three of the missiles targeted the
MV Star Nasia
, a Greek bulk carrier flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, according to Centcom.
The
"
MV Star Nasia
reported an explosion near the ship which caused material damage but no injuries"
, while a second missile crashed nearby and a third was destroyed by an American destroyer, specifies the press release.
The other three missiles appeared to target the
MV Morning Tide
, a Barbados-flagged British ship, but they all exploded in the Red Sea without causing damage, Centcom adds.
Yemeni Houthi rebels earlier claimed to have targeted US and British ships off the coast of Yemen in two separate attacks.
“The first
(attack)
targeted the American ship
Star Nasia
, while the other targeted the British ship
Morning Tide ,
”
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement.
An attack launched from a small boat
The private maritime security company Ambrey first reported a drone attack on the night of Monday to Tuesday against a British cargo ship flying the Barbados flag, before specifying that it was a projectile attack.
The projectile was
“launched from a small boat”
and exploded near the ship, causing minor damage, she said.
According to the British maritime security agency UKTMO, the attack on the British cargo ship took place 57 nautical miles (about 105 kilometers) west of Hodeida, a major port on Yemen's west coast controlled by Houthi rebels.
The
Star Nasia
was targeted at 10:30 GMT about 53 nautical miles southwest of the Gulf of Aden, the Greek Ministry of Shipping confirmed, adding that no injuries were reported. reported among the Filipino crew on board.
The hull did not appear to have been breached, although there was some material damage, he added.
The ship was en route from the United States to India, and its owner is listed on the American stock exchange, which could explain the fact that it was associated with the United States, Ambrey estimated.
“Legitimate targets”
American forces carried out a new strike on the night of Monday to Tuesday against the Houthis in Yemen, targeting two marine drones loaded with explosives, according to Centcom in a previous press release.
Since January, the United States has carried out several operations in Yemen and off the coast of this war-torn country, sometimes jointly with the United Kingdom, saying it wants to protect ships from Houthi attacks, which disrupt traffic on this essential route for world trade.
Yemeni rebels began targeting merchant shipping in November, saying they were targeting cargo ships linked to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza facing the war between Israel and Hamas.
The American and British ships were also designated as
“legitimate targets”
after the initial strikes against Houthi positions.
Supported by Iran, the bête noire of the United States, the Houthi rebels control a large part of the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, after nearly a decade of war against the Yemeni government.