Houthis Admit to Attack on Red Sea Ship with Missile Strike
Initial reports from USCENTCOM suggest that the Greece-owned vessel was not harmed in a missile attack in the Red Sea.
According to officials, a Greece-owned commercial vessel was damaged in the Red Sea on Monday due to a missile attack allegedly conducted by Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
US Central Command (USCENTCOM) stated that Iranian-backed Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen towards the Malta-flagged, Greece-owned MV Cyclades on Monday.
The attack occurred between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. Sanaa time, as reported by USCENTCOM.
While the Greece-owned vessel reportedly sustained no injuries and continued its journey, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated that the ship was damaged in the alleged attack off the coast of Mokha, Yemen.
No specific details regarding the extent of the damage were provided by UKMTO.
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In a statement on Tuesday, Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that the MV Cyclades commercial vessel, along with two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, were attacked by the Iran-backed group.
Houthi Attacks on the Rise
On the same day, USCENTCOM announced that U.S. forces had intercepted and destroyed an airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched by Houthis towards the USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea.
The drone was shot down at 7:49 a.m., with no reported injuries or damages to U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels, as per USCENTCOM.
Officials stated that the UAV posed a threat to vessels in the region, leading to its interception to ensure the safety of navigation in international waters.
The recent incident is part of a series of attacks by the Houthis on vessels in crucial shipping routes in the Red Sea, continuing a pattern of similar incidents this month.
Missile Explodes Near Ship
Earlier on Monday, the Italian Defense Ministry reported that one of its navy frigates had intercepted and shot down a drone headed towards an escorted merchant ship in the Red Sea.
The Virginio Fasan frigate, protecting a European commercial freighter, targeted the drone near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Italian officials mentioned that the drone shared characteristics with those used in previous Houthi attacks and was intercepted while approaching the escorted merchant ship.
Although the Virginio Fasan frigate and the merchant ship continued their route as planned, a missile explosion near the merchant ship caused minor surface damage, as per the Italian Defense Ministry.
The Houthis have not publicly claimed responsibility for this alleged attack, but they have been involved in over 50 drone and missile attacks on international vessels since last year, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The Pentagon highlighted that these attacks disrupt global trade, impact economies worldwide, and lead to significant financial losses for commercial shipping companies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
