Destruction of Houthi Ballistic Missile; CENTCOM: It was Fired at an American Oil Tanker

The United States Central Command, CENTCOM, destroyed a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile that had been fired at an American oil tanker. According to CENTCOM's statement, the USS Mason destroyer intercepted the Houthi ballistic missile at 5 PM on Saturday, March 5, local time in Sana'a, which had been launched towards the Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM added that this missile likely targeted the MV Term Thur, which flies the American flag and is owned and operated by the United States. CENTCOM clarified that this attack by Houthi militants caused no damage to the American oil tanker or the USS Mason destroyer. The destruction of this Houthi ballistic missile comes a day after CENTCOM reported the destruction of seven Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles. CENTCOM characterized these Houthi weapons as an 'imminent threat' to commercial vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region, stating that their destruction was aimed at protecting freedom of navigation and making international waters safer for vessels in the area. On Thursday, March 3, CENTCOM also destroyed seven drones and two Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles. CENTCOM noted on Friday that the Houthi attack on a bulk carrier a week earlier posed an environmental threat due to fuel leakage and cargo spillage into the Red Sea. According to CENTCOM, on February 18, the Houthis caused significant damage to a British-owned bulk carrier in an 'unjustified' attack, resulting in an oil slick covering approximately 30 square kilometers and over 40,000 tons of fertilizer spilling into the Red Sea. Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have disrupted a route that accounts for about 12% of global maritime traffic, forcing shipping companies to take longer and more expensive routes around Africa. This Iran-backed group emphasized on Thursday that it will continue its attacks on vessels and will now also use submarines in addition to missiles and drones for its operations against ships. The U.S. and its allies have repeatedly targeted Houthi positions in Yemen over the past four months, but the group has deemed these coalition attacks ineffective, stating that it will disrupt maritime security until the end of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Both the Houthis and Hamas are supported by the Islamic Republic.