US says no damage to vessels after Houthis claim attack on American ship

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed early on Friday that they had carried out another attack on a US ship, following the US's recent strikes on rebel targets for their hostility towards vessels in and around the Red Sea. 

The US military later claimed that the rebels' missiles had missed their target, despite the Iran-backed rebels' insistence that they had hit the merchant tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

In a statement shared on social media, the Huthis claimed that their "naval forces... carried out a targeting operation against an American ship" (the Chem Ranger), "with several appropriate naval missiles, resulting in direct hits."

Meanwhile, taking it to its official X handle, US Central Command said, "On Jan. 18 at approximately 9 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged, U.S.-Owned, Greek-operated tanker ship. The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship. There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship. The ship has continued underway."

Third Houthi Terrorists Attack on Commercial Shipping Vessel in Three Days

On Jan. 18 at approximately 9 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged, U.S.-Owned, Greek-operated tanker… pic.twitter.com/moBkH0Al5B

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 19, 2024

In a string of tweets, US Central Command also said that as part of ongoing multi-national efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, on Jan. 18 U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at approximately 3:40 p.m. (Sanaa time) and determined they were an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense.

U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missiles

As part of ongoing multi-national efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, on Jan. 18 U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship… pic.twitter.com/bvrSaDN6Wl

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 18, 2024

It is to be noted here that Houthis have launched numerous attacks on shipping in water after the war has been erupted in Gaza on October 7. 

US designates Yemen's Houthis as 'global terrorist'

In reaction to the Houthis' ongoing threats and attacks, the United States has declared that Ansarallah, often known as the Houthis, is a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The US began attacking Houthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday in response to the rebels' attacks on ships in the Red Sea. This prompted Washington to relist the group as "specially designated global terrorists."