Suspected Houthi rebel missile sets cargo ship ablaze. Israel intercepts separate attack near Eilat
CTV
A suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels set a ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday as Israel intercepted what appeared to be another Houthi attack near the port city of Eilat, authorities said.
A suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels set a ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday as Israel intercepted what appeared to be another Houthi attack near the port city of Eilat, authorities said.
The attacks come as the rebels escalate their assaults over Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The attack Thursday in the Gulf of Aden saw two missiles fired, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. It said the unnamed ship was ablaze, without elaborating. Later Thursday, the UKMTO said the ship suffered minor damage after the fire and that its crew was safe.
Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press identified the vessel ablaze as a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander. It had been coming from Thailand bound for Egypt and previously sent out messages saying "SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD" to potentially avoid being targeted by the Houthis.
"The missile attack lead to a fire onboard and coalition military assets were responding to the incident," the private security firm Ambrey said.
The ship's Liberian-listed owners could not be immediately reached for comment.
The French military separately said it shot down two Houthi drones Thursday in the southern part of the Red Sea.
