Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia struck the US-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile, the US Central Command said on Monday, although there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.
The vessel’s US-based operator Eagle Bulk Shipping said that it was hit by an “unidentified projectile” while sailing 100 miles off the Gulf of Aden and suffered limited damage to its cargo hold, and no seafarers were injured.
“As a result of the impact, the vessel suffered limited damage to a cargo hold but is stable and is heading out of the area,” Eagle Bulk said in a statement, adding that it was carrying a cargo of steel products.
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, have been attacking commercial ships in the area that they say are linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports, in action they claim is aimed at supporting the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
US and British forces responded last week by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Earlier in the day British Maritime Security firm Ambrey said that a Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier was reportedly struck by a missile while transiting near Yemen’s port of Aden.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said that a vessel was hit from above by a missile 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden, without identifying the vessel.
Ambrey said three missiles were reportedly launched by the Houthis, with two not reaching the sea and the third striking the bulk carrier.
Ambrey added that the impact reportedly caused a fire in a hold, but that the bulker remained seaworthy with no injuries on board.
The vessel was assessed not to be Israel-affiliated, according to Ambrey, which also assessed the attack to have targeted US interests in response to the recent strikes on Houthi military positions.
The latest attack suggests that despite the US strikes, the Houthis appear undeterred.
Later on Monday an explosion was heard near Yemen’s Hodeidah airport, residents reported. Hodeidah is some distance from Aden, however, and it was not immediately clear what had caused the blast.
The Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the west and north of Yemen, have vowed to continue attacks in the Red Sea since the US and British strikes.
The group’s leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, said on Thursday in a televised speech that any US attack on Yemen would not go without a response.
The US military said on Sunday a US fighter jet shot down an anti-ship cruise missile that the Houthis fired towards the USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea.
-With Reuters
