The Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated their attacks against vessels navigating through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Despite US, UK military action, and international warnings, an American tanker was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. A second missile failed to launch, following the interception of a third one by Washington aimed at one of its destroyers.

Houthi attacks towards Yemeni territorial waters, where international shipping and forces are stationed, have been accompanied by drone strikes within Yemen. These targeted locations under the legitimate government in the provinces of Dhale and Shabwa have resulted in casualties.

Washington and London directed strikes last Friday, which included dozens of Houthi targets in Sanaa and four other provinces before the US unilaterally intensified these strikes on Saturday, targeting a Houthi location near Sanaa airport.

The British Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden on Monday, with the ship's captain reporting a missile strike on the port side from above.

While authority investigations are underway, vessels have been advised to navigate cautiously and report any suspicious activities. Information regarding the nationality and cargo of the ship was not immediately available, nor did the Houthis claim responsibility for the attack, which Yemeni sources believe was carried out with a missile from north of Dhale province.

Ambrey, a British maritime security firm, stated that a US-owned cargo vessel flying the Marshall Islands flag was attacked by a missile as it passed near Aden, Yemen.

The US Central Command confirmed the attack, stating on January 15 that around 4 PM (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, hitting the container ship "M/V Gibraltar Eagle," which flies the Marshall Islands flag and is owned and operated by the US. The vessel reported no casualties or major damages and continued its journey.

The statement added that the Houthi group launched an anti-ship ballistic missile around 2 PM (Sanaa time) towards the commercial shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea, but it failed in flight and hit the ground without causing injuries or damages.

Al Jazeera cited a Houthi military source confirming the attack on a vessel in the Red Sea after it had ignored the group's call.

These developments came hours after the US Central Command announced the downing of a Houthi "cruise" missile targeting an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

The US Central Command release mentioned that on January 14, around 4:45 PM (Sanaa time), a cruise missile was launched by Iran-backed Houthis towards the USS Laboon (DDG 58), operating in the southern Red Sea. The missile was intercepted off the Hodeida coast by US fighters, with no injuries or damages reported.

The Houthis have renewed their threats to continue attacking ships claimed to be Israeli or destined for or from Tel Aviv ports. Houthi leaders also threatened to target US interests in the Red Sea, retaliating for strikes that have killed 15 Houthi militants and injured six others since December 31.

The Iran-aligned group stated on Monday that it will continue "to prevent Israeli vessels or those headed to occupied Palestinian ports until the aggression and siege on Gaza stop."

The Yemeni government claims the group is exploiting popular sentiment over the Israeli warfare on Gaza while serving Iran's regional goals, aiming to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

Yemen's Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik, reiterated his country's stance on the developments during a meeting with the British ambassador in Riyadh, Abda Sharif. He asserted that securing global trade movement and regional stability cannot be achieved without restoring Yemen's state institutions, the principal guarantor of Yemen's sovereignty and stability.

Amid fears of collapsing UN-led Yemeni peace efforts, supported by Saudi and Omani backing, the Houthi group continued drone and missile strikes internally, killing at least two soldiers in Shabwa and a third in Dhale, with three others injured by drone attacks.

Impact on Navigation
The Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have negatively impacted the situation regionally and in Yemen, discouraging shipping companies from passing through the Suez Canal and tripling shipping costs to reach Yemeni ports, adding to the population's suffering, with about 18 million relying on international humanitarian aid.

Reuters reported that Qatar Energy, one of the world's largest LNG exporters, temporarily suspended shipments through the Red Sea following US-led strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, affecting the vital commercial route.

According to US data, the group has carried out over 28 attacks against ships in the Red Sea since November 19, including the piracy of the "Galaxy Leader" and detaining its crew, turning it into an attraction for its followers off Hodeida.

While US President Joe Biden warned the Houthis against further attacks, promising new strikes, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated to parliament on Monday that the UK wishes to "reduce tensions" in the Red Sea, joining the US-led airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen as a "last resort."

UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps said the country would "consider" whether to "take further action" to deter Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

As per PA Media, Shapps indicated Britain needs to "wait and see" what will happen after the joint airstrikes with the US last Friday, following weeks of attacks on shipping along the vital international route by the Iran-backed Houthis.

In the context of British remarks, Foreign Secretary David Cameron affirmed Britain's determination to halt Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, stating, "What the Houthis are doing is wrong, and we are determined to put a stop to it," adding that it is necessary to work with allies to defend navigation freedom and protect the global economy.