Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Yemen’s Houthi rebels have carried out a missile attack on a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea, causing an explosion near the vessel without inflicting damage. The incident was reported by the master of the ship, named the Pinocchio and managed by a Singaporean firm, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.
The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed that the Houthis used two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the attack. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, alleging that the Pinocchio was an American vessel, although no evidence was provided to support this claim.
The attack is part of a series of assaults by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, aimed at putting pressure on ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Despite their intentions, recent Houthi attacks have shown little to no connection to the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Last week, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and prompting survivors to abandon the vessel. This attack marked the first fatal incident in the ongoing campaign of assaults by the Houthi rebels.
In response to the attacks, the U.S. has conducted airstrikes targeting the Houthis since January. However, these efforts have not halted the rebel group’s assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting trade routes crucial for energy and cargo shipments between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
On Monday, U.S. forces launched six strikes, destroying an underwater Houthi drone and 18 anti-ship missiles. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah satellite news channel reported U.S. strikes in Yemen’s Houthi-held Hodeidah and Saada provinces. The escalation of attacks in the region has raised concerns about the safety and security of maritime trade routes in the Red Sea.