US Army reports coalition vessel targeted by ballistic missile from Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been escalating their attacks on ships in the Red Sea region since November, claiming to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The latest incident involved a coalition vessel successfully intercepting an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by the Iranian-backed group over the Gulf of Aden, according to US Central Command (USCENTCOM).

The missile was reportedly targeting the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged vessel with American and Greek crew members on board. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported from the attack. In a separate operation, USCENTCOM also destroyed four airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, citing a threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks on the US ship Maersk Yorktown, an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden, and the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean. These incidents are part of a series of attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea region since November, disrupting global shipping routes and forcing vessels to take longer, more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

The United States and Britain have responded to the Houthi attacks by launching strikes on their targets in Yemen. The situation remains tense as the conflict between the rebels and international forces shows no signs of abating.