Houthi drones attacked a U.S.-owned and operated vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command. This is the second time this week that Iran-backed rebels have successfully targeted American ships.
CENTCOM said no one on board the vessel was injured and it suffered “some” damage. The ship, docked in the Marshall Islands, said she remains seaworthy and continues to sail, the statement said.
Earlier Wednesday, a Houthi spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the group had fired a series of missiles directly at a U.S. vessel.
On Monday, a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile struck another U.S.-owned and operated ship in the Gulf of Aden. It appears to be the first time the Houthis have successfully attacked a U.S.-owned and operated commercial vessel since they began attacking international shipping routes in mid-November.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a warning to U.S. commercial shipping, advising them to stay off the southern Red Sea until further notice.
Officials said the decision ultimately rests with companies and individual watercraft, but advised that U.S.-flag and U.S.-owned commercial vessels are “encouraged” to avoid the area “until further notice.”