WASHINGTON: The US military Tuesday carried out a new strike in Yemen against four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, officials said, the latest move against the Iran-backed group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping. One of the officials told Reuters that the missiles were struck because they were being prepared to target ships in the region. The official said no other details were available yet, including the precise location.
The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Greek-owned, Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea.No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked.
This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite the massive US and UK assault on the group on Friday, bombing over 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets. The Houthi disruptions are likely to push up prices of consumer goods in Europe in particular, a freight operator said. War risk insurance premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are rising, insurance sources said.