Fresh Houthi Attacks On Vessels In Red Sea Area

A coalition vessel successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), which was launched from the Iranian-backed Houthi "terrorist-controlled areas" in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden, the US military said in a statement on Thursday.

"The ASBM was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members," it said.

"There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships," it added.

Yemeni Houthis armed and supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea area since last November, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Muslims earlier that month to blockade Israel in response to its invasion of Gaza.

US Central Command, CENTCOM, also reported drone launches from Yemen either targeting naval vessels or commercial ships in the region.

Earlier, Houthis said they targeted the Maersk Yorktown ship and an American warship destroyer in the Gulf of Aden as well as targeting the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean, the Iran-aligned group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Wednesday.

The United States and the United Kingdom have launched several air strikes against the Houthis in retaliation for their missile and drone strikes targeting vessels.