A Greece-owned commercial vessel sustained damage in the Red Sea on Monday following a missile attack allegedly carried out by Houthi terrorists in Yemen, according to officials.
Iranian-backed Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel on Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
The shots were fired between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. Sanaa time, CENTCOM said.
While CENTCOM said initial reports indicated there were no injuries on board the Greece-owned vessel and it was able to continue on its way, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the alleged attack had damaged the ship.
It did not provide further details regarding the extent of the damage. The incident took place off the coast of Mokha, Yemen, according to UKMTO.
Houthi Attacks on the Rise
Elsewhere on Monday, CENTCOM stated that U.S. forces had “successfully engaged and destroyed” one airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, allegedly launched by Houthis towards the USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea.American forces shot down the drone at 7:49 a.m., and no injuries or damages were reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels, CENTCOM said.
“It was determined the UAV presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” officials added. “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.”
Missile Explodes Near Ship
Earlier on Monday, the Italian Defense Ministry said one of its navy frigates also shot down a drone in the Red Sea that was headed in the direction of an escorted merchant ship.The Virginio Fasan frigate, which was protecting a European commercial freighter, shot down the drone Monday morning near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Italian Defense Ministry said in a press release.
“The drone, with similar characteristics to those already used in previous Houthi attacks, was about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Italian ship, in the direction of the escorted merchant ship.”
Officials added that “complex attacks with missiles and drones” had also occurred earlier on Monday morning but that those alleged attacks had been stopped thanks to “evasive maneuvers carried out by the merchant ship.”
One missile that exploded in the water near the commercial freighter caused minor surface damage, they said, adding that the Virginio Fasan frigate and the merchant ship were “continuing as planned on their route.”
The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for that alleged attack.
However, the Iran-aligned group has launched more than 50 drone and missile attacks on shipping vessels in international waters since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The group—which claims to be carrying out the attacks in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza—has also seized one vessel and sunk another since late last year.
According to the Pentagon, the attacks by Houthis are impacting global trade and commerce, and negatively impacting the economies of nations around the world. They are also costing commercial shipping firms billions of dollars.
