SANAA: A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi resistance group struck a US-owned ship, the Gibraltar Eagle, just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. This follows less than a day after the group targeted an American destroyer in the Red Sea with an anti-ship cruise missile.
While the attack on the Gibraltar Eagle has not been immediately claimed by the Houthis, it adds to the heightened tensions in the Red Sea region, particularly after American-led strikes on Yemen. The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping, creating concerns amidst Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The targeted corridor is crucial for linking Asian and Middle East energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal, which leads to Europe.
Houthis Target US-owned Ship in Gulf of Aden
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, overseeing Middle East waters, reported that Monday’s attack occurred approximately 110 miles southeast of Aden. The captain of the Gibraltar Eagle reported that the missile struck the “port side of the vessel from above.” Private security firms Ambrey and Dryad Global identified the vessel as the Eagle Gibraltar, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier.
The US military’s Central Command later confirmed the strike, attributing responsibility to the Houthis. Central Command stated, “The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey.”
The Eagle Gibraltar is owned by Eagle Bulk, a firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Satellite-tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press indicated that the Eagle Gibraltar had been en route to the Suez Canal but rapidly altered its course at the time of the attack.
