(Scypre.com) – In a recent incident on Monday, a U.S.-owned ship, the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, sailing in the Gulf of Aden, fell victim to a missile strike originating from Yemen. The U.S. Central Command promptly identified the perpetrators as Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who reportedly fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. This Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier is owned by Eagle Bulk, a shipping company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
According to the official statement released by the U.S. Central Command, the attack occurred around 4 p.m. Sanaa time on January 15th. Remarkably, despite the gravity of the situation, there were no reported injuries or significant damage to the vessel. The M/V Gibraltar Eagle continues its journey undeterred. The incident marks the 30th attack on commercial vessels by the Houthi rebels since the alarming surge in such activities began on November 19th.
Adding to the narrative, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), responsible for overseeing maritime activities in the Middle East waters, corroborated the attack. The event unfolded approximately 110 miles southeast of Aden, as reported by UKMTO on Monday. In a subsequent advisory, vessels are urged to navigate with caution, and any suspicious activities are to be promptly reported to UKMTO.
Investigations are already underway, with authorities looking into the details of the incident. The UKMTO report indicates that the missile struck the port side of the vessel from above. Despite the severity of the situation, maritime authorities emphasize the need for vigilance and caution in the region.
The context of this attack is set against a backdrop of escalating tensions. In the aftermath of U.S. strikes conducted on Thursday and Friday nights, Houthi rebels demonstrated their resilience by launching multiple missiles, including both ballistic and cruise missiles, towards international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Fortunately, no ships were impacted during these attacks.
An additional noteworthy incident occurred on January 14th when a U.S. fighter jet successfully intercepted a cruise missile launched by Houthi militants towards the USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea. This successful interception underscores the heightened state of alertness and readiness in the region.
Curiously, U.S. Central Command reported a second missile fired from Yemen earlier on the same day as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle incident. Fortunately, this missile did not enter commercial shipping lanes and, failing in flight, impacted on land in Yemen, causing no injuries or damage.
Notably, no group has claimed responsibility for the Monday attack on the M/V Gibraltar Eagle. The lack of a clear attribution adds an element of mystery to the situation, leaving authorities to delve deeper into the motives and forces behind this targeted act.