Houthi Rebels Attack US-Owned Ship Near Yemen

The Houthi rebels in Yemen recently escalated regional tensions by launching a missile that struck a U.S.-owned ship near Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. This attack followed closely after their attempt to hit an American destroyer with an anti-ship cruise missile in the Red Sea.

The ship targeted on Monday, identified as the Gibraltar Eagle, sustained the attack near the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, as confirmed by the Houthis. This incident heightens the already tense situation in the Red Sea, particularly impacting crucial maritime routes that connect Asian and Middle Eastern energy and cargo shipments to Europe via the Suez Canal.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the attack occurred approximately 110 miles southeast of Aden, with the ship’s captain reporting a missile strike on the port side.

Private security companies Ambrey and Dryad Global identified the vessel as the Eagle Gibraltar, a bulk carrier registered in the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Central Command acknowledged the incident, stating that there were no injuries or significant damage, and the ship continued its journey.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, claimed responsibility for the attack in a televised address, declaring American and British ships participating in aggression against Yemen as hostile targets.

Eagle Bulk Shipping, based in Stamford, Connecticut and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, owns the vessel. The company reported limited damage to a cargo hold but confirmed the ship’s stability and departure from the area. They also assured that all crew members were unharmed and that they were in communication with relevant authorities.

Satellite data showed that the Eagle Gibraltar was heading towards the Suez Canal but reversed course at the time of the attack.

Separately, the U.S. detected another missile launch towards the southern Red Sea, which failed and landed in Yemen. The U.S. Maritime Administration has warned of ongoing risks to commercial vessels near Yemen.

Furthermore, the British military reported warning shots fired from a civilian ship off Eritrea to deter a small boat in the Red Sea.

The initial missile launch towards the USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Red Sea, marked the first confirmed Houthi action against U.S. forces since American-led strikes on the rebels began. The missile, believed to have originated from Hodeida, a Houthi-controlled port city, did not result in injuries or damage.

The U.S. military’s response to these attacks remains uncertain, though President Joe Biden has expressed readiness to take necessary measures to protect American interests and international commerce.

The U.S.-led offensive, beginning on Friday, targeted over 60 Houthi positions, including weapon depots and command centers. The Houthis acknowledged the loss of five troops and injuries to six others.

U.S. forces also struck a Houthi radar site on Saturday. The Houthis’ repeated targeting of ships in the Red Sea, purportedly in retaliation for Israel’s Gaza operations, has jeopardized shipping in this vital global trade route.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah highlighted the increasing maritime tensions and attributed them to American actions in the Red Sea.

The recent events in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden pose a threat to broader regional stability and have significant implications for global shipping, particularly affecting Qatar, a leading natural gas supplier. Saudi

Arabia, supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis, is attempting to maintain a cautious stance amid these tensions while striving for peace with Iran and a ceasefire in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen since 2015 has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis and the loss of over 150,000 lives.

The U.S. military has not explicitly stated that the USS Laboon was the intended target of the Houthi fire, continuing a pattern of non-specific acknowledgment since the Houthi attacks began. However, U.S. sailors have been awarded combat ribbons for their service in the Red Sea, an honor typically reserved for those engaged in active hostilities.