Yemen’s Houthi insurgents launched two missiles at a vessel en route to an Iranian port on Monday, resulting in minor damage but causing no injuries to the ship’s crew, as confirmed by authorities.
The incident involving the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Iris, operated by a Greek company, underscores the Houthis’ expanded targeting of ships navigating through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links these waterways.
The Star Iris was en route from Brazil to Bandar Khomeini in Iran.
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Notably, Iran serves as the primary supporter and supplier of arms to the Houthi faction in Yemen’s protracted conflict.
The Houthis attempted to portray the Star Iris as an “American” vessel, although they provided no substantiating evidence, and asserted that they had targeted the ship with multiple missiles.
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Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree issued a statement following the attack, asserting that their military is prepared to conduct further operations in response to perceived Zionist actions in Gaza and ongoing American-British aggression against Yemen.
The United Kingdom Trade Operations center, responsible for overseeing maritime activities in the Middle East, reported the incident.
They stated that the attack occurred as the Star Iris was navigating south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the UKTMO, the captain of the ship reported that two missiles struck the vessel, resulting in minor damage. However, the crew and ship are unharmed, and the vessel is continuing its journey to its next port of call.
The assault on the Star Iris occurred following a period devoid of reported Houthi assaults on maritime vessels.
The reason for this lull remains uncertain; however, it coincides with a series of aerial attacks conducted by the US and British military forces, which have targeted the missile stockpiles and launch facilities under Houthi control.
Since November, the insurgents have consistently aimed at ships traversing the Red Sea in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
These attacks have frequently targeted vessels with ambiguous or minimal affiliations to Israel, thereby endangering maritime traffic along a crucial trade route connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.