The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported a US ship, the Gibraltar Eagle, was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Ansarallah (Houthi) militants earlier today.
CENTCOM also reported another Houthi missile fired toward Red Sea commercial navigation lanes which failed to reach its destination and landed in Yemen.
According to CENTCOM, despite being struck, the Eagle “reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey.”
On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has… pic.twitter.com/gixEMaUiVT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 15, 2024
The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group partly financed by Iran, have vowed to strike all ships in the Red Sea with any connection to Israel until Israel commits to a ceasefire with Hamas.
Following today’s attacks, the US Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration released a statement warning US ships avoid entering and exiting the Red Sea.
Under former President Donald Trump, the US designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). However, President Joe Biden revoked the Houthis’ FTO designation in February 2021.
Despite revoking the Houthis' official FTO designation, President Biden recently called them “terrorists,” but walked back his statements saying their designation was “irrelevant.”
The Houthi attacks arrived as Israel marks the 101st day since Hamas’ brutal October 7th attacks.
Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) marked the 100th day by sharing a video from one of the sites where Hamas terrorists massacred and kidnapped Israeli civilians.
“These are the faces of the innocent men and women who have been held hostage for 100 DAYS by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. Raped.Kidnapped. Tortured,” said Senator Scott.
These are the faces of the innocent men and women who have been held hostage for 100 DAYS by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists.
Raped.
Kidnapped.
Tortured.Absolute evil. We must fight to #BringThemAllHome. 🎗️ pic.twitter.com/paiyyLcv9e
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 14, 2024
