Houthis target US-owned tanker in latest of daily attacks

The Houthi rebels unsuccessfully targeted another U.S.-owned tanker Thursday night in their latest attack in the Red Sea.

Houthi fighters launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at the M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged and Greek-operated tanker ship, at 9 p.m. local time, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The missiles did not hit the tanker and fell into the water, CENTCOM said. There was no damage, and no one was injured in the attack. The tanker ship has continued on its way.

The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks from Yemen at commercial shipping since late November in a growing problem for the Biden administration that shows no signs of stopping.

The U.S. has responded with retaliatory strikes five times since an initial round of strikes last week, but the Houthis have continued to target merchant ships.

Hostilities have disrupted global trade and forced several of the world’s largest shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea shortcut and instead take the long route around Africa.

The Pentagon said the U.S. strikes are damaging Houthi infrastructure and forcing the Iranian-backed militia group to scale down attacks, but the Houthis are proving resilient in keeping up the attacks.

Houthi fighters claim to target Israel-based ships and ships headed to Israel in protest of the Israeli war in Gaza, but the U.S. said the attacks are without basis and are harming the entire international community and countries that have no link to the Gaza conflict.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi delivered a speech Thursday claiming the U.S. attacks are only strengthening his military as he vowed to continue the aggression so long as the Israel war in Gaza carries on.