Iran's Houthis Launch Ballistic Missiles Into Red Sea

The Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea over the past 24 hours.

The US military, CENTCOM, called the attack "continued malign and reckless behavior" by the group designated terrorists by countries including the US, claiming the ongoing offensive threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. No injuries or damage was reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships. 

The Houthis began a blockade of the Red Sea region in mid-November in support of Iran-backed Hamas's war in Gaza following Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's call on Muslim countries to blockade Israel and Israeli-linked ships. However, since the US and UK launched direct attacks on Houthi targets, the Yemeni proxy said they are also targets of the blockade.

Dozens of hostages unrelated to Israel have been taken hostage on ships unrelated to the Jewish state since the blockade began. Claiming to be in allegiance with Hamas in Gaza amid the war sparked by the terror group's invasion of Israel of October 7, in which 1,200 mostly civilians were killed and 250 hostages taken to the strip, the blockade has since extended to the Indian Ocean. It has had a major impact on international shipping through the Red Sea, the shortest route between Asia and Europe.