Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two European-owned carrier ships in the Red Sea; damaging them, the US military said on Sunday.
The two vessels hit in the space of 24 hours were Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned and operated container ship M/V Tavvishi and M/V Norderney, an Antigua and Barbados-flagged, German-owned and operated cargo ship, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
Two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) were launched from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, with one striking the M/V Tavvishi. The vessel was damaged but continued underway and no injuries were reported, the regional command said.
In a separate incident, Houthis launched "one ASBM and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden," Centcom said, with both missiles striking the M/V Norderney. The cargo ship was damaged but continued underway and no injuries were reported.
Centcom said that its forces also destroyed one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) over the Gulf of Aden as well as two Houthi land attack cruise missiles (LACM) and one missile launcher in areas of Yemen controlled by the militants after assessing they presented an "imminent threat."
Houthi militants have repeatedly fired on merchant ships in the critical Red Sea shipping corridor that connects to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal since the start of the war in Gaza in October.
The militants have said the attacks are intended to support Palestinian militant group Hamas by making it more difficult for cargo ships to reach Israel.
In response to the attacks, the United States and the UK have carried out several military strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The European Union has also launched a military operation to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
