- A US-owned cargo ship has been struck by a Houthi missile off Yemen, the US military has said – though there were no injuries or significant damage reported
The US-owned cargo ship struck by a missile near Yemen has reported no injuries or significant damage, the US military has said.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a Houthi missile was fired at the MV Gibraltar Eagle as it was passaging outside the Gulf of Aden.
The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier is continuing on its journey, the statement added.
According to the CENTCOM: “On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship.
“The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey. Earlier in the day, at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes.
“The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported.”
A statement from the operator of the US-owned cargo ship hit by a Houthi missile off Yemen, the Eagle Bulk, said that the Gibraltar Eagle was struck by an “unidentified projectile” while sailing 100 miles off the Gulf of Aden.
“As a result of the impact, the vessel suffered limited damage to a cargo hold but is stable and is heading out of the area,” Eagle Bulk said.
“All seafarers onboard the vessel are confirmed to be uninjured. The vessel is carrying a cargo of steel products.”
Earlier, British maritime security company Ambrey said the ship isn’t associated with supplies of goods to Israel.
The company assessed the vessel could have been targeted by the Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, in retaliation for the recent strikes by the US and the UK.
UK Maritime Trade Operations agency earlier said it received a report that a missile hit a ship 95 nautical miles southeast of the city of Aden in Yemen.
The missile hit from above, the agency said, providing no other details. UKMTO advised vessels to exercise caution when transiting the area.