Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden over the weekend, raising the number of attacks since Nov. 19, 2023, to more than 175.
Houthi attacks have intensified following joint US and UK strikes earlier this month that targeted several Houthi positions in Yemen, including weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and command and control centres.
The joint attack on the Houthi positions involved F-18 fighter jets from the US aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower.
US Central Command said on Sunday that the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden over the weekend.
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Fighters from the newly formed Houthi rebel group took part in a demonstration in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Wednesday, February 21, to protest the US-led offensive against Yemen and Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. (AP/Osama Abdulrahman)
One of the ASBMs struck the Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container ship M/V Tavvishi.
The M/V Tabishi was reportedly damaged in the collision but continues to sail towards its destination.
The second ASBM was destroyed by Coalition ships before it could strike its target.
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Houthi fighters have carried vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns at rallies in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and have recently taken part in attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group targeted a merchant ship in the Red Sea on Monday. (Mohamed Hammoud/Getty Images)
A second separate Houthi attack involved firing one ASBM and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden.
Central Command said the two missiles shot down the M/V Nordenei, a German-owned and operated cargo ship registered in Antigua and Barbados.
The M/V Nordenei was also damaged but continued on to its destination.
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No injuries were reported in either cargo ship collision.
The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since late October and say the latest attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Houthis have attacked ships more than 50 times since November, killing three sailors, capturing one vessel and sinking another.
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In response to the attack, the Pentagon launched an international mission called Operation Guardian of Prosperity in late December to counter the Houthi attacks.
― Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betts contributed to this report.
