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On January 15, the US military reported several attacks on vessels navigating near the Yemeni coast.
The US Central Command confirmed an attempt to attack the US Navy destroyer Laboon. The attempt took place at about 16:45 Sana’a time on January 14. The US fighter intercepted the anti-ship missile flying from Yemen in the southern waters of the Red Sea. The US fighter jet reportedly shot down a missile near the coast of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. CENTCOM clarified that there was no information about injuries or damage.
More attacks were reported on January 15.
At about 2 p.m. (Sana’a time), U.S. forces reportedly detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea, which ‘targeted commercial shipping lanes’. According to CENTCOM, the missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported.
Later, at about 4 p.m. (Sana’a time), another anti-ship ballistic missile struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle bulk carrier. This is a U.S.-owned and operated container ship which is flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. The US military claimed that the ship had reported no injuries or significant damage and continued its journey.
According to the British company Ambrey, which deals with maritime security, the US bulk carrier was hit by a missile near Yemen’s Aden. The attack led to a fire in the hold. The crew members were reportedly not wounded. The British company confirmed that the ship had links to Israel. The was reportedly heading to Israel.
In response to the strikes in Yemen, the representative of the Ansar Allah movement, Mohammed Abdel Salam, warned that the Houthis would continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, despite attacks by the United States and allies on militant positions in Yemen.
