Two cargo ships in the Red Sea have been attacked by missiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, according to US officials. One vessel was struck by a drone and another by missiles, both launched from areas under the control of the Iran-backed rebel movement.
The Houthis did not confirm the drone strike but said they fired missiles at the second ship, the MSC Palatium, and a third vessel, the MSC Alanya. The attacks mark the latest incidents against foreign shipping in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The container ship Al Jasrah, operated by German firm Hapag-Lloyd, was hit by a drone, causing a fire. There were no casualties, and the vessel continued towards its destination in Singapore. Meanwhile, a US defence official reported that a separate missile strike caused a fire on another ship, prompting a US Navy destroyer to respond.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the Houthis pose a 'material threat' to shipping and commerce, and blamed Iran for supplying the rebels with weapons. He urged Tehran to cease the attacks, which he described as a fundamental threat to international peace and security.
The Bab El Mandab strait, a narrow waterway vital for global trade, has seen increased attacks, leading to rising insurance premiums and the potential rerouting of ships around the Cape of Good Hope. The Houthis, who support Hamas, have targeted vessels they claim are linked to Israel.
