US military confirms Houthis fired missiles at two vessels

Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi forces fired anti-ship ballistic cruise missiles at two ships on Saturday, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated. One of the missiles hit Tavvishi, a Liberian-flagged and Swiss-owned container ship in the Gulf of Aden.

“Tavvishi reported damage but has continued underway,” CENTCOM announced in a statement on Sunday, adding that a coalition warship had successfully intercepted a second Houthi missile.

In a separate Houthi attack, one cruise missile hit an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo vessel, Norderney. The missile reportedly caused a fire onboard that was later extinguished. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported at the time that “damage control is underway." 

CENTCOM forces also successfully neutralized an unmanned aerial system and Houthi missile launchers that were considered imminent threats to coalition forces and commercial vessels in the area.

Armed and trained by Iran, the Houthi terror forces from Yemen have conducted numerous attacks on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea area since the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The Houthis officially claimed they attacked international shipping vessels in an act of solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. However, the majority of the commercial vessels hit by the Houthis have not had links to Israel or the ongoing war in Gaza.

A significant amount of international shipping and trade between Asia and the West passes through the strategically important Red Sea.

The U.S. Maritime Administration assessed that the Houthis have conducted over 50 terror attacks on shipping since November.

Three civilian sailors have been killed in Houthi attacks so far and the terrorists have succeeded in seizing one ship and sinking other vessels.

In December, Washington formed an international military coalition to confront the growing threat from the Houthis against international shipping. The alliance includes Great Britain, Canada, France, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, Bahrain and others.

In late January, American and British forces targeted several Houthi sites in Yemen in response to the ongoing attacks from Yemen. Following the operation, the coalition alliance stated that it sought a de-escalation and an end to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

“Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” the statement read.

However, despite the international coalition, the Houthis have continued to carry out terror attacks in the region. In March, senior Houthi terrorist Abdul Sattar Al-Nehemi vowed to continue the attacks in solidarity with Gaza.

“We have a firm belief in our leadership and its decisions, which motivates us to continue these operations in support of our brothers in Gaza,” Al-Nehemi told The Media Line news outlet.

Al-Nehemi also threatened the United States and Israel with “more surprises,” without elaborating any further.

Sources on the Middle East confirmed in January that the Iranian regime and Hezbollah commanders played a central role in arming and training the Houthi terrorists in carrying out the attacks.

“The Houthis are not acting independently,” the director of the Gulf Research Center, Abdulaziz al-Sager, explained.

“The Houthis, with their personnel, expertise and capabilities are not that advanced. Dozens of vessels cross through Bab al-Mandab daily, the Houthis don’t have the means, resources, knowledge or satellite information to find the specific target and attack,” he added.