Red Sea conflict escalates as ship smashed in missile strike from Yemen

The incident occurred 76 nautical miles north west of Yemen’s port city of Saleef.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also said it received a report of an incident 100 nautical north west of Saleef.

The vessel hit by an anti-ship missile in the Red Sea this morning is the dry bulk carrier Zografia. The vessel is reported to have suffered minor damage.

The Zografia had 24 crew on board and was sailing, empty of cargo, from Vietnam to Israel.

There are no reported injuries, according to two Greek shipping ministry sources.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to expand their targets in the region in response to U.S. and UK airstrikes on Houthi linked sites in Yemen last Thursday.

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The coalition strikes followed months of Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis previously claimed they were only targeting vessels linked to Israel, and that their attacks were in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Parliament that the airstrikes he authorised were a “limited and proportionate response” to unacceptable attacks on commercial vessels in a vital shipping lane.

However, despite last week’s American and British led airstrikes, the Houthis vowed to retaliate, and have since launched a number of anti- ship missiles at civilian and military vessels.

On Friday, an oil tanker was targeted by a missile in the Gulf of Aden, but landed 400-500 meters away from that vessel, causing no damage or injuries.

On Sunday, the American navy guided missile destroyer USS Laboon was targeted by a missile in the southern Red Sea.

A combat jet from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower was launched to defend the destroyer and shot the missile down.

Yesterday, an American-owned bulk carrier, the Gibraltar Eagle was struck by an anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden.

The vessel, which was carrying steel, sustained damage to part of its cargo hold.

Last night, a Houthi military spokesman warned the rebel group now considered U.S. and UK linked warships and commercial shipping as “hostile targets” in response to last Thursday’s airstrikes.