US-owned ship struck by missile near Yemen, Defense Department says


A U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden was hit by a missile fired from Yemen on Monday, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. Central Command identified the vessel as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier. The ship is owned by Eagle Bulk, a Stamford, Connecticut-based shipping firm.

“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,” U.S. Central Command said on X. “The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey.”

CENTCOM RELEASES STATEMENT AFTER LATEST HOUTHI ATTACK IN YEMEN: ‘DESIGNED TO DEGRADE THE HOUTHI’S ABILITY’

Houthi Rebels

The U.S. is building an international coalition to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP)

It added: “Earlier in the day, at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes. The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported.”

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

This report is developing and will be updated. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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