US military confirms Houthi missiles hit 2 commercial ships in Gulf of Aden

LOS ANGELES — Yemen’s Houthis damaged two commercial vessels in missile attacks in the Gulf of Aden in the last 24 hours as part of the militia group’s ongoing campaign against international ocean shipping, US Central Command says.

The Iran-backed Houthis hit the Tavvishi, a Liberian-flagged and Swiss-owned container ship with an anti-ship ballistic missile, CENTCOM says. The vessel was damaged, but no crew were injured, according to CENTCOM.

Two missiles fired by the Houthis struck the Norderney, a German-owned cargo ship operating under Antigua and Barbados flags, CENTCOM says. That ship sustained damage, but no crew were injured and the vessel continued on its journey, CENTCOM says.

The Houthis previously said they had hit the Tavvishi and Norderney, and claimed to have set the latter ablaze.

MSC Ship Management is the manager of the Tavvishi, according to LSEG data. Reuters cannot immediately reach the firm for comment. Sunship Schiffahrtskontor, manager of the Norderney according to LSEG, also cannot be reached for comment.

CENTCOM says its forces also destroyed an uncrewed aerial system over the Gulf of Aden as well as two land attack cruise missiles and one missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.