Houthis Target Cargo Ship Bound for Iran; Analysts: Tehran Was Aware of the Attack

On Monday, February 12, Houthi forces in Yemen, supported by the Iranian government, targeted a cargo ship in the Red Sea; shipping analysts reported that this ship was carrying corn to Iran. Shipping sources indicate that this appears to be the first cargo ship bound for Iran that the Houthis have targeted since they began attacking international vessels in the Red Sea. A U.S. defense official stated without providing details that the ship was likely targeted but was not hit. Initial reports suggested that the ship may have been damaged but there were no casualties. The Houthi group, which is supported by the Iranian government, has been attacking vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since late November, expressing solidarity with Hamas in its war against Israel. These attacks have disrupted shipping through the waterways and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connect them. According to a military spokesman for the Houthis, the targeted ship was the American 'Star Iris', however, ship tracking companies stated that this vessel was Greek-flagged and belonged to the Marshall Islands. The company 'Kpler', which monitors shipping data, reported that 'Star Iris' was carrying Brazilian corn to Iran. A senior 'Kpler' analyst in agricultural shipping stated: 'Like all bulk carriers bound for Iran, 'Star Iris' did not divert its course from the Red Sea out of fear of Houthi attacks.' He noted that this ship was carrying 4.5 million tons of corn from Brazil, the largest corn supplier to Iran, for the current calendar year. Reuters quoted a regional security official as saying: 'It seems the Houthis wanted to show that the Iranian government does not control this group and that they are acting independently, having informed Tehran of this attack in advance.' The British maritime security company 'Ambrey' and the British Army's commercial operations center had previously reported on Monday about a missile attack on a cargo ship passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to reports, this bulk carrier was Greek-owned and flagged by the Marshall Islands, and two missiles were fired at it two minutes apart on Monday morning. Ambrey reported that the right side of the ship was damaged, and the British Army's commercial operations center stated that no harm was done to the crew and that the ship continued its course to its destination. The missile attack on a ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Monday; the Houthis are the main suspects. The U.S. destroyed two Houthi vessels and three cruise missiles. The U.S. targeted several missiles and unmanned moving vessels of the Houthis.