Houthi Attack on Another Cargo Ship; CENTCOM: No Damage Reported

The Houthis of Yemen stated on Wednesday that they attacked a cargo ship heading to Israel. This attack occurred a day after the U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, reported that Houthi fighters fired two ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea. The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen including its capital, Sana'a, have attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, claiming 'solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza.' Some experts suggest that the Houthi attacks are at the behest of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Reuters, the Houthis claim to target ships that are linked to Israel or are heading towards Israel. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated in a televised announcement that the group targeted a cargo ship belonging to 'CMA CGM.' He did not provide further details, including when and where the attack took place. Yahya Saree also mentioned that the Houthis sent warning messages to the ship, which the crew allegedly ignored. The French shipping company 'CMA CGM' responded to inquiries about the Houthi claims, stating that the ship did not sustain any damage or incident. The company also clarified that the ship was heading to Egypt, not Israel. In his speech, the Houthi military spokesperson reiterated the group's position to continue their attacks until aid reaches Gaza and issued another warning to the U.S., stating: 'No U.S. attack will go unanswered or unpunished.' CENTCOM released a statement saying there were no reports of damage from the two missiles fired by the Houthis in that area. In the statement published on Tuesday evening, CENTCOM noted that several commercial ships reported missile impacts in the surrounding waters. In response to the Houthi attacks, several shipping companies are rerouting around the African continent instead of passing through the Red Sea, which could prolong their routes and increase costs. Additionally, the article mentions that the Houthi missile attacks prompted a response from two U.S. warships. The U.S. has sanctioned an individual and three entities facilitating financial aid from the Islamic Republic to the Houthis. The continued Houthi attacks on ships led 'Maersk' to halt its passage through the Red Sea for 48 hours. CENTCOM reported that the Houthis fired missiles at several commercial ships on Tuesday evening. The global oil prices have also increased coinciding with the arrival of the destroyer 'Alborz' in the Red Sea.