Yemen rebels launch fresh Red Sea ship attacks

The launches came three days after US and UK forces launched a wave of airraids against the Iran-backed Huthis -- their third round of joint militaryaction in response to the rebels' persistent attacks on shipping.
"Iranian-backed Huthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM)from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Southern Red Sea and the Gulfof Aden", US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
Three of the missiles were aimed at the MV Star Nasia, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that is Greek owned and operated, the military commandsaid.
"MV Star Nasia reported an explosion near the ship causing minor damage butno injuries", while a second missile later landed nearby and a third was shotdown by a US destroyer, CENTCOM said.
The other three missiles were apparently aimed at the MV Morning Tide, aBarbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship, but they exploded in the Red Seawithout causing damage.
The Huthis had earlier said they struck US and British ships in two Red Seaattacks -- the latest among dozens of incidents that have disrupted globalshipping.
The Iran-backed rebels, who control much of the war-torn country, have beenharassing shipping in a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestiniansin the Israel-Hamas war.
Huthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the first attack on Tuesday "targeted theAmerican ship Star Nasia, while the other targeted the British ship MorningTide".
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The Huthis "will carry out more military operations against all hostileAmerican-British targets" in self-defence, Saree warned on X, formerlyTwitter.
The Greek merchant marine ministry said the Star Nasia sustained materialdamage but the hull did not appear to have been breached and no injuries werereported among the Filipino crew.
The Huthis have either attacked or threatened commercial vessels more than 40times since November 19, according to the Pentagon.
In a helicopter assault that day, the Huthis captured the Galaxy Leader, anIsrael-linked cargo vessel, and its 25 international crew members, whoinclude at least two Bulgarian nationals.
They forced it to the Hodeidah port, where it has remained.
Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgy Gvozdeykov said Tuesday that the sailorsof the Galaxy Leader were "safe and sound" and would shortly return toBulgaria.
"The information we have... on the sailors of the Galaxy Leader captured inthe Red Sea is that they are well, safe and sound and are staying in ahotel," the minister told private Bulgarian television station bTV.
The Huthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour aroundsouthern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that normally carriesabout 12 percent of global maritime trade.
Most trade between Asia and Europe usually passes through the Red Sea and theSuez Canal that leads to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the International Monetary Fund's PortWatch platform, totaltransit volume through the Suez Canal was down 37 percent this year byJanuary 16 compared with the same period a year earlier.