The U.S. military says a British-owned cargo ship was set ablaze by a Houthi rebel missile attack in the Gulf of Aden, after the Iranian-backed terrorist group announced it would ban U.S., British and Israeli ships from sailing in the Red Sea. Announced.
One person was injured when the Palauan-flagged MV Islander was hit by a Houthi-fired missile on Thursday morning, according to U.S. Central Command.
The MV Islander was bound for Egypt and was said to be flying with a banner reading “Syrian crew on board” to protect the ship from terrorists plaguing international trade routes.
“The missile attack caused a fire on board the ship and coalition assets were responding to the incident,” private security firm Ambry said in a statement.
The attack on the British cargo ship came as the Yemen-based terrorist group issued a statement formally banning US, UK and Israeli groups from sailing in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
The statement was delivered by the Houthis’ newly established Humanitarian Action Coordination Center to shipping insurance companies and companies operating in the area.
A senior Houthi official told Reuters on Thursday that “a humanitarian assistance center has been established in Sanaa to coordinate the safe and peaceful passage of vessels not connected to Israel.”
Since November, the terrorist organization has vowed to launch attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea as a show of support for Hamas, and says the violence will only end when the Jewish state withdraws from Gaza.
Attacks in the Red Sea have since expanded to include international shipping vessels, targeting U.S. and British vessels, and led countries to launch a series of airstrikes against terrorists in Yemen.
Central Command confirmed over the weekend that it had carried out a self-defense strike against an unmanned submarine in Yemen, the first since the Houthis began their offensive.
The rebels vowed to carry out further underwater attacks after issuing the ban.
Hours before Thursday’s attack in the Gulf of Aden, U.S. military aircraft and warships intercepted six Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, U.S. Central Command said.
Israel’s Arrow missile defense system also appears to have intercepted a Houthi rebel attack fired into the port of Eilat early Thursday.
Israeli authorities have not confirmed where the missile was launched from, but the Israel Defense Forces said it was launched from the Red Sea region and headed toward the Jewish state.
“The targets did not cross Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to civilians,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement about the interceptions.
Houthi rebels have not yet claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack.
with post wire
