By Al-Fassel | 2024-01-16

A US-owned cargo ship was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday (January 15), a British security agency and maritime risk company said, a day after the Iran-backed Houthis fired a cruise missile at a US destroyer.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency reported a "vessel hit from above by a missile," without providing details, AFP reported.

British maritime risk company Ambrey reported that a fire broke out on board the Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier, but it remains seaworthy and there were no injuries.

The company "assessed the attack to have targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen," Ambrey said.

The latest attack comes after the US military on Sunday shot down a cruise missile fired at a US warship from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in what appeared to be the group's first direct attack against a US destroyer.

At approximately 4.45pm Sunday, an anti-ship cruise missile was launched toward USS Laboon, which was operating in the southern Red Sea, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

"The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of al-Hodeidah by US fighter aircraft," it said. "There were no injuries or damage reported."

US and UK forces on Friday hit nearly 30 Houthi military sites in Yemen using more than 150 munitions, US Gen. Douglas Sims said, updating earlier figures.

At 3.45am local time on Saturday, the US military conducted a "follow-on" strike against a Houthi radar site in Yemen, CENTCOM said.

The strike was conducted by the USS Carney using Tomahawk land attack missiles, it said.

The strike was "a follow-on action on a specific military target associated with strikes taken on January 12 designed to degrade the Houthi's ability to attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels," it said.

Around 12% of global trade normally passes through the Red Sea.

But since mid-November, the attacks have prompted many shipping firms to take the longer route around the tip of Africa, disrupting supply chains and putting upward pressure on inflation.

Danish tanker firm Torm on Friday said it was halting all transit through the southern Red Sea until further notice, following the Houthis' attacks and retaliatory strikes in Yemen by the United States and United Kingdom.

The Danish company owns a fleet of around 80 vessels and specializes in the transportation of petroleum products.

US, UK remain ready to act

Britain, the United States and eight allies said strikes on Friday aimed to "de-escalate tensions," but the Houthis vowed to continue their attacks.

The United States last month announced a maritime security initiative to protect shipping in the area. But the Houthis kept up attacks despite several warnings.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the strikes on Friday, days after adopting a resolution demanding the Houthis immediately stop their attacks.

US President Joe Biden on Friday called the strikes a successful "defensive action" after the "unprecedented" Red Sea attacks, and said he would act again if the Houthis continued their "outrageous behavior."

Biden said he would "not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary."

Britain remains ready to act to "defend freedom of navigation," Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Sunday.

"We've demonstrated that we're prepared to follow words and warnings with action and that is incredibly important," Cameron told Sky News.

He suggested further strikes could occur if the Houthis continue to target ships in the Red Sea.

"We have to act. Not acting is also a policy, and it was a policy that wasn't working," he said.

"It's not just the goods that are coming to this country... it is also grain ships on their way to Ethiopia and Sudan to feed some of the poorest and hungriest people in the world," he said.

Cameron took aim at Tehran, saying there was "no doubt that the malign actor in the region who is behind these proxy groups is Iran."

"Iran backs Hamas. They back Hizbullah. They back the Houthis. They provide them with weapons," he told Sky News.

"We know what they're doing. We know what they're doing is wrong. We call them out for it," he added.

Houthis remain recalcitrant

Hundreds of thousands of people, some carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles, gathered in Houthi-controlled Sanaa on Friday to protest the US and UK strikes, AFP reported.

The Houthis released a video showing military maneuvers in Yemen's northwestern Saada province where fighters simulated bomb, missile and artillery attacks on US and Israeli targets.

Al-Hodeidah province is a key launch site for rockets and drones targeting Red Sea shipping.

The Houthis have been holding the Galaxy Leader, a merchant vessel they seized off al-Hodeidah on November 19, at Salif Port, north of the city.

Yemenis -- grown accustomed to preparing for crises by stocking up on food and supplies -- began lining up at gas stations in al-Hodeidah and Sanaa before eventually dispersing, AFP reported.

But across Sanaa, business had largely resumed as usual.

"We weren't very scared of the strikes because we've grown used to these sounds for years," said pediatrician Yousra Sanan, 30, referring to the ongoing and grinding war in Yemen, triggered by the Houthis' coup of 2014.

"We want to live in safety and stability," she added. "We don't want wars."