A United States-owned ship was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday (Jan 15), a UK security agency and maritime risk company said.

This comes a day after Houthi rebels launched a cruise missile targeting a US destroyer.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency on its website reported that a “vessel hit from above by a missile” in the Gulf of Aden without providing further details.

The UK maritime risk company Ambrey said that a broke out on board the Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier, further informing that no one was hurt in the incident and that the ship was still seaworthy.

UKMTO WARNING 009/JAN/2024 – UPDATE 001

ATTACK

Warnings – 2024 (https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE)#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/U3Y3S3qx9V— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 15, 2024

The company “assessed the attack to have targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen”, Ambrey said, adding that the vessel was “assessed to not be Israel-affiliated”.

“The impact reportedly caused a fire in a hold. The bulker reportedly remained seaworthy, and no injuries were reported,” it said.

The ship was identified by US Central Command as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle.

“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 reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey,” read a post by CENTCOM on X.

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

US says it shot down anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi area of Yemen

A US fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Iranian-backed Houthi rebel areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday (Jan 14).