Military says targets presented âimminent threatâ as missiles were âprepared to launch towards the Red Seaâ.
The United States military says it conducted four âself-defenceâ strikes against the Houthis, destroying seven antiship cruise missiles, a mobile ballistic missile launcher and a drone originating from areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-aligned group.
The militaryâs Central Command (CENTCOM) said the missiles were âprepared to launch towards the Red Seaâ, adding that it also shot down a âone-way attack unmanned aircraft systemâ on Wednesday.
It said on Thursday that it had determined the targets presented an âimminent threat to merchant vessels and to the US Navy ships in the regionâ.
Feb. 21 Red Sea Rollup
On Feb. 21, between 12:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted four self-defense strikes against seven mobile Houthi Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles and one mobile Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile launcher that were⌠pic.twitter.com/SxSlZWLodK
â U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 22, 2024
On Thursday, two missiles targeted a vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, adding that âcoalition forces are respondingâ.
Security firm Ambrey also reported a fire on board a Palau-flagged, British-owned general cargo ship following two missile strikes southeast of Yemenâs Aden.
The ship âappeared to be headed from Map Ta Phut, Thailand, and headed in the direction of the Red Seaâ, Ambrey said. âMerchant shipping is advised to stay clear of the vessel and proceed with caution.â
There was no immediate claim for the attack.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 037 â UPDATE 001
ATTACK
Warnings â 2024 (https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE)#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/sXwpScJ4tw
â United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) February 22, 2024
The Israeli military said on Thursday that its Arrow missile defence system intercepted an air attack from the direction of the Red Sea as sirens sounded in the port city of Eilat.
In a post on Telegram, an Israeli army spokesperson did not say who was responsible for the attack. The Houthis have previously claimed to have fired drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel, including Eilat.
Shipping chaos
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have carried out dozens of attacks on vessels with commercial ties to the US, the United Kingdom and Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November.
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said the Houthis are âbehaving like a terrorist organisation â attacking civilians, civilian shipping, and innocent marinersâ.
The group was still detaining the crew of the Galaxy Leader, consisting of 25 people from five countries. The Houthis took control of the ship, reported to be partly owned by an Israeli businessman and sailing under the flag of the Bahamas, in November.
âThis is piracy,â Miller said on Wednesday.
The Houthis say the strikes are a response to Israelâs military operations in Gaza. Despite US-UK retaliatory strikes, they have promised to continue their campaign in solidarity with Palestinians until Israel stops the war.
Miller said their attacks on shipping vessels are âendangering an already fragile humanitarian situationâ and âdo nothing to help the Palestiniansâ.
The attacks have disrupted international commerce along a route that accounts for about 15 percent of the worldâs shipping traffic. Several shipping companies have redirected their vessels around the southern tip of Africa, delaying delivery times and adding a further 3,000-3,500 nautical miles (5,500-6,500km) to their route.
âThe Houthisâ attacks are driving up prices and causing delivery delays in critical humanitarian items, such as food and medicine in places where itâs needed most,â said Miller.
âThis is adversely affecting those in need of assistance around the world, including in Sudan, Ethiopia and in Yemen itself,â he added. âMany of the ships that the Houthis have attacked contained food, such as grain and corn, headed for those countries.â
On Tuesday, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said on X: âWhat the world is impatiently waiting for is not the militarisation of the Red Sea, but rather an urgent and comprehensive declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza, for humanitarian reasons that are clear to anyone.â