USCENTCOM Says U.K.-Owned Ship Damaged in Houthi Missile Attack off Yemen

A Palau-flagged, British-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden was hit by two missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis February 22, causing damage to the vessel and a minor crew injury, the U.S. military says.

BBC News said the Islander is continuing its voyage following the attack south-east of the Yemeni port city of Aden. U.K. maritime authorities said the missiles caused a fire on board.

A Houthi spokesman confirmed they had targeted the Islander and said they had also launched drones at a U.S. warship.

The U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement on February 22 that between 04:30 and 05:30 local time (01:30-02:30 GMT) U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down six Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, in the Red Sea.

Later, between 08:30 and 09:45, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden.

"The missiles impacted MV Islander a Palau-flagged, U.K.-owned, cargo carrier causing one minor injury and damage. The ship is continuing its voyage."

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that two missiles set ablaze a vessel — which it did not identify — about 70 nautical miles south-east of Aden. It said the vessel and crew were safe and proceeding to their next port of call.