The US Central Command informed, on February 6th, between 1:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Arabian Standard Time, Iranian-backed Houthi militants carried out a series of alarming attacks, firing six anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemeni territories under Houthi control. The targeted areas included the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, posing a significant threat to maritime security in the region.
Elaborating on the incident, the US Central Command in a statement informed, among the targeted vessels was the MV Star Nasia, a bulk carrier flagged under the Marshall Islands and operated by Greek owners. The vessel reported three separate missile attacks, with the first occurring around 3:20 a.m., resulting in a minor explosion near the ship. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the damage was limited. Subsequent missile attempts at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. were intercepted by the USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating nearby, ensuring the safety of MV Star Nasia as it continued its voyage undeterred.
Simultaneously, three anti-ship ballistic missiles were directed towards the MV Morning Tide, a cargo ship flagged under Barbados and owned by a UK-based company, navigating the Southern Red Sea. The statement added, all three missiles impacted the water near the ship without causing any damage or casualties. MV Morning Tide proceeded with its journey unharmed, with no reported injuries among its crew.
Claims the Responsibility
Following the attack, in a statement released, a military spokesperson of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed the responsibility of both attacks.
It is worth noting that the region has been engulfed in tensions, especially following the Israel-Palestine conflict. In a show of solidarity with Palestine, the Iranian-backed militias have jumped into the flaring war tensions, further escalating the situation. Vowing their support for Palestine and Hamas, the group has escalated its actions. Since November, these rebels have launched multiple attacks on ships in the Red Sea, posing a significant risk to shipping along a crucial trade route connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In retaliation to their attacks, recently the United States and the United Kingdom, backed by other allies, have also launched airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites for its attacks.
The U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. “These strikes are intended to degrade Houthi capabilities used to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on U.S. and U.K. ships as well as international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. These strikes are separate and distinct from the multinational freedom of navigation actions performed under Operation Prosperity Guardian,” the US Central Command in a statement said.
