Houthis in Yemen Attack Another Commercial Ship in the Red Sea

British security company Ambrey reported on Saturday, May 18, that it received information about a Panama-flagged tanker being targeted approximately ten nautical miles (about 18 kilometers) southwest of Mocha on the Red Sea coast. Ambrey stated that it learned through a radio call that the ship was hit by a missile, causing a fire on board. Ambrey did not provide further details but later added that assistance was rendered to the tanker without specifying the details. Ambrey advises nearby vessels to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities. Earlier on Saturday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency announced that a ship in the Red Sea, 76 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, was struck by an unidentified object and sustained minor damage. The agency stated that the ship and its crew were unharmed and continued on their course. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Thursday, May 25, that the USS Mason destroyer had intercepted a Houthi anti-ship missile over the Red Sea three days earlier. CENTCOM also reported that U.S. forces had shot down two drones. The U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, speaking at the Security Council last Monday, described the transfer of weapons from the Islamic Republic to Houthi rebels in Yemen as 'unprecedented' and called for an end to this action by the Iranian government. Robert Wood stated that if this body seeks to end the civil war in Yemen, it must warn the Islamic Republic with full consensus that it can no longer 'hide behind the Houthis' and must immediately cease its destabilizing actions. He added, 'There is extensive evidence that the Islamic Republic is providing advanced weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles, to the Houthis in violation of UN sanctions. For this reason, the UN Security Council must stop the ongoing violations of the arms embargo and take further actions against violators of the sanctions.' The Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months under the pretext of supporting Palestinians, disrupting international shipping and forcing shipping companies to take longer and more costly routes around southern Africa. The United States, Britain, and their other allies have formed a naval coalition in response to Houthi attacks, targeting their positions and weapons. The American destroyer intercepted a Houthi anti-ship missile over the Red Sea. The U.S. stated that the Islamic Republic cannot hide behind the Houthis and must immediately cease its destabilizing actions. A 'pirate' attempt to seize a ship in eastern Aden failed. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have attacked three ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Houthis issued a new threat: they will target Israeli ships in the Mediterranean. The Islamic Republic claims to have released the crew of the MSC Aris ship. A container ship was targeted in the Red Sea by a missile.