Missile Attack on a Ship in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait on Monday; Houthis the Main Suspects

A ship was attacked by two missiles on Monday in the key Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the latest assault believed to have been carried out by Houthi rebels from Yemen. According to a report by the Associated Press citing the British Army's Commercial Operations Center, no one was injured in the attack, and the ship continued its journey. As of the time of this report, it is unclear how much damage was inflicted on the ship. The Houthi group, which is supported by the Iranian government, did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, but it often takes several hours for this rebel group to confirm its attacks. This Yemeni group, backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November of last year due to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This has caused disruptions in transportation through the waterways and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait that connect them. On Sunday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement about the continuation of attacks on Houthi positions and weapons, the group supported by the Islamic Republic in Yemen, on Saturday. According to CENTCOM's statement, between 4 and 5 PM Sana'a time on Saturday, two unmanned surface vessels and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in northern Hudaydah were successfully targeted. CENTCOM added that these Houthi weapons were ready to fire and were attacked because they were identified as an 'imminent threat' to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the region. CENTCOM concluded its statement by asserting that these actions protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for American and commercial ships. On Friday, CENTCOM also destroyed two unmanned surface vessels, four mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, and one cruise missile specifically for Houthi ground attacks that were ready to fire. Last week, dozens of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged President Joe Biden to 'immediately' designate Yemen's Ansar Allah, or the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on January 17 that the Houthis would be designated as an international terrorist group on the U.S. government's list of foreign terrorist organizations within 30 days, before the end of Bahman this year. Shahin Modarres: The Houthis have nothing but the capabilities and technology provided to them by the Islamic Republic. The U.S. destroyed two Houthi vessels and three cruise missiles. Exclusive: U.S. response to Amir-Abdollahian's statements: Tehran received our message of response to the killing of our soldiers. The U.S. targeted several Houthi missiles and unmanned vessels. Exclusive: A U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the United States firmly defends the security of maritime trade in the Red Sea. The Pentagon reported that over 40 militants were killed or wounded in last Friday's attacks on groups supported by the Islamic Republic.