Military officials in the United States have reported that the Houthi rebels launched two missiles on Monday at a cargo ship headed to Iran in the Red Sea, causing minor damage to the vessel without any injuries.
The US Central Command stated on the social networking site Ex that the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, fired the missiles from their controlled areas in Yemen towards the cargo ship “Star Iris,” which is owned by Greeks and flies the flag of the Marshall Islands. The ship was carrying corn from Brazil across the Red Sea.
Reuters quoted officials from the Central Command as saying that reports from the ship indicated it was seaworthy despite the minor damage and no injuries among the crew members, clarifying that the destination of “Star Iris” was the Imam Khomeini Port in Iran.
The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the targeting of the American ship “Star Iris” in the Red Sea with missiles, stating that the attack resulted in direct hits.
The military spokesman reiterated their commitment to continue operations against Israeli ships until the aggression on Gaza stops.
The US Central Command and the Cabler Group for Analysis and Data reported that “Star Iris” was carrying a shipment of corn from Brazil to Iran.
Heading Towards Iran
Reuters quoted sources in the shipping industry saying that the attack, which occurred early yesterday, is apparently the first time the Houthis have targeted a ship heading to Iran since they began their attacks on international shipping in solidarity with Palestinians amid the war Israel is waging on Gaza.
Ishan Bhanu, a senior analyst for primary agricultural commodities at Cabler, stated, “Like all ships heading to Iran, ‘Star Iris’ did not divert its course away from the Red Sea, perhaps due to its lack of fear of Houthi attacks, who can be considered friends considering the ship’s destination.”
He added, “Brazil’s exports make up the majority of Iran’s corn imports, with an expected volume of 4.5 million tons this year.”
A security official from the region stated that the attack seemingly aimed to “show that Iran does not control the Houthis and that they are acting independently,” indicating that the Houthis had informed Tehran in advance.
This comes in the context of escalating tensions in the region due to the Israeli aggression on Gaza for over four months.
Since the beginning of last December, the Houthi group has claimed responsibility for targeting 20 ships in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, using missiles and drones, as part of their efforts to prevent Israeli ships or those heading to Israeli ports from passing.
It is worth noting that American and British forces have carried out three waves of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen since January 12th. Occasionally, the US forces alone target missiles said to be prepared for launch.
