Houthis fire missile at ship in Red Sea

SANAA: A missile launched Friday by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at a ship in the Red Sea caused no damage, ater they threatened to expand their harassment campaign which has disrupted global trade.

The rebels have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes on shipping in the commercially vital seaway over the past four months.

On Friday, the Royal Navy’s United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations and security firm Ambrey had reported that the ship was damaged ater being hit west of the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeidah in the early hours of Friday.

But a daylight inspection showed that the vessel had not been impacted by the missile and had not sustained damage, UKMTO and Ambrey said in a later update.

Ambrey said the “vessel was listed as Israel-affiliated but had changed ownership in February 2024,” adding that it was headed from Singapore to the Suez Canal with armed guards onboard.

The same tanker was nearly hit by a missile southeast of Yemen’s port of Aden the previous day, Ambrey said.

The Houthis claimed the atack in a statement, alleging that the ship is Israeli-owned. They identified the vessel as Pacific 01.

They also claimed a separate drone atack on a US destroyer in the Red Sea, adding that the strike “achieved its goals.”

There was no immediate confirmation from Washington and AFP could not independently verify the Huthi claims.

The flurry of Huthi atacks, including a deadly assault on a bulk carrier last week and the sinking of a ship carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, have triggered reprisal strikes by US and British forces.

On Thursday, the US military said it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones ater the Houthis fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Such exchanges have become a frequent occurrence in the area, sending shipping insurance costs soaring and prompting many firms to detour around the southern tip of Africa.