Houthis launch fresh Red Sea ship attacks
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched six missiles toward two merchant ships — one of which has a Filipino crew — on Tuesday, reportedly causing light damage to one of them, the United States military said.
The launches came three days after US and United Kingdom forces launched a wave of air raids against the Iran-backed Houthis — their third round of joint military action in response to the rebels’ persistent attacks on shipping.
“Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.
Three of the missiles were aimed at the MV Star Nasia, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that is Greek-owned and operated, the military command said.
“MV Star Nasia reported an explosion near the ship, causing minor damage but no injuries,” while a second missile later landed nearby and a third was shot down by a US destroyer, it added.
The other three missiles were apparently aimed at the MV Morning Tide, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship, but they exploded in the Red Sea without causing damage.
The Houthis had earlier said they struck American and British ships in two Red Sea attacks, the latest among dozens of incidents that have disrupted global shipping.
The rebels, who control much of the war-torn country, have been harassing shipping in a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians in the IsraelHamas war.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the first attack on Tuesday “targeted the American ship Star Nasia, while the other targeted the British ship Morning Tide.”
The Houthis “will carry out more military operations against all hostile American-British targets” in self-defense, he warned on X, formerly Twitter.
The Greek merchant marine ministry said the Star Nasia sustained material damage, but the hull did not appear to have been breached and no injuries were reported among the Filipino crew.
The Houthis have either attacked or threatened commercial vessels more than 40 times since November 19, the Pentagon said.
In a helicopter assault that day, the Houthis captured the Galaxy Leader, an Israel-linked cargo vessel, and its 25 international crew members, who include 17 Filipinos and at least two Bulgarians.
They forced it to the Hodeidah Port, where it has remained.
Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgy Gvozdeykov said Tuesday that the sailors of the Galaxy Leader were “safe and sound” and would shortly return to Bulgaria.
“The information we have ... on the sailors of the Galaxy Leader captured in the Red Sea is that they are well, safe and sound and are staying in a hotel,” the minister told private Bulgarian television station bTV.