Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they had fired missiles at two vessels in the Red Sea, causing damage to the ships. The Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels with drones and missiles in the Red Sea since mid-November, in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war. The group's military spokesman said it had fired naval missiles at the Star Nasia and Morning Tide, identifying the Marshall Islands and Barbados-flagged ships, respectively, as American and British. The Greek-owned Star Nasia, managed by Star Bulk Carrier, was damaged by an explosion at 11:15 a.m., a Greek shipping ministry official said, adding that its crew were not injured. It is unclear whether the explosion was caused by a sea mine or a rocket, the official added. The U.S. military's Central Command said the Houthis fired three missiles at the Star Nasia, which reported minor damage but no injuries. A U.S. Navy ship operating near the Star Nasia shot down one of the missiles, Centcom said. It said the Star Nasia remained seaworthy and was continuing toward its destination. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and British maritime security firm Ambrey reported an explosion near a merchant vessel off Yemen's port of Aden on Tuesday. Ambrey said the second vessel, a Barbados-flagged general cargo ship owned by a British company, had suffered damage from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while sailing south through the Red Sea. No injuries were reported. The ship performed evasive maneuvres and continued its journey, Ambrey said. (Reuters)
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