The Houthis said in a statement posted on social media that “our naval forces… carried out an operation targeting a US vessel” – identified as the Chem Ranger – “with a number of appropriate naval missiles”.
A plane takes off from a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea to attack Houthi military targets in Yemen on January 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters
The statement did not give a time or other details about the latest attack on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
The US Central Command said Houthi forces “launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at the M/V Chem Ranger, a Greek-operated, Marshall Islands-flagged tanker” on Thursday evening.
“The crew observed the missile impacting the water near the ship. There were no reports of injuries or damage to the ship,” the statement said, implying that the missile did not fully hit its target.
Earlier on Wednesday, Houthi also launched a ballistic missile attack on the Greek-owned cargo ship Zografia, flying the Maltese flag, moving in the Red Sea, but caused no casualties.
Video captured by the camera of the Zografia ship when it was hit by a missile (source: X/Status-6)
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The Houthis’ continued attacks on ships in and around the Red Sea have led to strikes in Yemen by U.S. and British forces. Most recently, U.S. Central Command said it conducted strikes on Friday against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that were being prepared to be launched into the Red Sea.
"US forces located the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they posed an imminent threat to US merchant and Navy vessels in the area. US forces then attacked and destroyed the missiles in self-defense," the statement said.
Image of Chem Ranger ship. Photo: GI
The website Marine Traffic said the Chem Ranger was a chemical tanker traveling from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait. The UK Maritime Safety Authority, which did not identify the ship, also reported an incident in the same area, adding in a bulletin that “the vessel and crew are safe and the ship is proceeding to its next port.”
The Houthis have carried out several attacks on ships in the waters around Yemen since the Gaza war broke out on October 7 between Israel and Hamas, in a show of support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, PO, AJ)
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