BREAKING: Iran-Backed Houthis Attack A US Cargo Ship

A U.S.-owned and operated container ship on Monday was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. said via social media that the attack took place at around 4 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) but the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, known as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, reported no injuries or significant damage and continued on with its journey.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization said authorities were investigating the incident, which occurred southeast of Aden in Yemen. The UKMTO said ships were “advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.”

It comes shortly after the U.S. and U.K. launched joint strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Iran-backed group has been attacking ships traversing the Red Sea since late last year, wreaking havoc on global trade and drawing international condemnation.

The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

(The footage attached is being used as a placeholder to depict a ship on fire because no footage of the current event is available yet at the time of posting. The video below is of a container ship that suffered an explosion a few years ago off the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka)