Yemen’s Houthis fired a missile that likely targeted the Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden on Feb. 24 but missed the U.S.-flagged oil tanker, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday, as the Iran-aligned militia steps up attacks on ships.
In the latest attack, the missile impacted the water causing no damage nor injuries, CENTCOM added in a post on X.
The Iran-aligned group said on Sunday that they had launched an attack on the tanker.
The Torm Thor is being used as part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, which has aimed to bolster oil shipping options for its armed forces in times of crisis, the U.S. Maritime Administration has said.
Two maritime security sources said the vessel had a U.S. military escort.
The vessel’s owner is Denmark’s Torm although it does not operate the ship, shipping databases showed.
Torm told Reuters it had halted sailings in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid January for its fleet of 85 vessels that it has full control of.
“Our decision to pause all transits through the southern part of the Red Sea for TORM operated vessels remains unchanged, prioritizing the safety and well-being of our crew above all,” the group said.
The U.S. military also shot down in “self-defence” two one-way unmanned aerial attack vehicles over the southern Red Sea on Sunday, CENTCOM said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since Nov. 19 as a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
