Failed Houthi Attack in the Red Sea; Missiles Did Not Hit 'Pinocchio'

On Tuesday, March 13, the U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, announced that Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen targeted a cargo ship named 'Pinocchio' flying the Liberian flag in the Red Sea, but the missiles did not hit the vessel. According to CENTCOM, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at 'Pinocchio,' which missed the ship, resulting in no damage or casualties. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, had previously stated that they targeted this 'American' ship. Based on official maritime data, 'Pinocchio' is a cargo ship registered under the Liberian flag and owned by a company registered in Singapore. Yahya Saree stated that the Houthis would intensify their military operations during Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. This group began attacking ships in the Red Sea following Israeli military operations in Gaza in response to attacks by this group's militants on the 15th of Mehr. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to use longer and more expensive alternative routes. In response to these attacks, the U.S. and Britain also targeted Houthi military positions in Yemen and once again placed this militia on the list of terrorist organizations. A spokesman for the Yemeni government, recognized by international bodies, told Reuters that the attacks attributed to the U.S.-British coalition on targets in small port cities in western Yemen resulted in 11 deaths and 14 injuries. CENTCOM stated that on Monday, it attacked six military targets in Houthi-controlled areas. In these attacks, an unmanned submarine vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles were destroyed, which CENTCOM claimed posed an imminent threat to commercial vessels and the U.S. Navy in the region. Meanwhile, Britain is sending a warship for defensive missions to the Red Sea. According to Britain, the warship 'Diamond' will protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Grant Shapps, the British Defense Minister, stated that London remains at the forefront of the international response to the dangerous and deadly Houthi attacks on commercial ships. Meanwhile, with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there are concerns that the conflict may spread to other parts of the Middle East. The legitimate Yemeni government confirmed the death of at least 11 people in the U.S. and British attacks on Houthi positions. The continued insecurity in the Red Sea by Houthis backed by the Iranian government; the destruction of several drones and missiles by the coalition. CENTCOM forces and the coalition shot down 15 Houthi drones. There were reports of 'two explosions' near a ship in the Gulf of Aden; the crew was unharmed. CENTCOM shot down four missiles and four drones of the Iran-backed Houthis.