Houthi missile hits container ship in Red Sea - Pentagon

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that a merchant ship transiting the Red Sea in southern Yemen was shot down by a Houthi missile. In addition, an American destroyer patrolling the area shot down two more missiles. The Danish-owned and operated Singapore-flagged container ship Maersk Hangzhou reported that it was under attack at 20:30 local time and requested assistance, CENTCOM X (formerly Twitter) reported. The statement said the vessel was unseaworthy and no crew members were reported injured. The statement said the warships USS Gravely and USS Laboon responded to a distress call and shot down two ballistic missiles from the former, adding that they were "fired at the ship from an area controlled by Yemen's Houthi rebels."

Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk announced in mid-December that it would suspend all cargo traffic through the Red Sea due to attacks on merchant ships in the region. But last week, the company said it planned to resume deliveries in conjunction with the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), which was set up to ensure safe passage.

Last week, Washington announced an international naval operation to secure trade in the region as Houthi attacks have forced major shipping companies to seek alternative routes and disrupted global supply chains. The Red Sea is the entry point for ships using the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of world trade.

Saturday's strike came a day after Denmark announced it would contribute to the US-led OPG and send a frigate next month. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, said they would attack ships linked to Israel in response to Israel's bombing and occupation of the Gaza Strip. According to CENTCOM, 23 ships have been attacked or seized in the Red Sea since November 19. Last week, the political office of the Ansar Allah Houthi movement accused the US-led naval coalition of being "an integral part of the attacks against the Palestinian people, the Gaza Strip, and the Arab and Muslim peoples". They also accused Israel of trying to "militarize the Red Sea for Israeli organizations," according to Yemen's Sabah news agency.