Two cargo ships are hit by missiles fired from Houthi-rebel territory in Yemen and set ablaze

A ballistic missile fired from rebel-held territory in Yemen has struck a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea near the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, setting the vessel on fire, a US defense official said.

The official – who spoke on condition of anonymity – identified the ship as the MSC Palatium III and said it remained unclear whether anyone was injured in the attack.

Friday's missile apparently targeted the Al Jasrah, another cargo ship that was hit by a projectile earlier in the day.

The attacks further escalate the campaign by Yemen's backed Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for a series of rocket attacks in recent days that narrowly missed shipping in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The attacks are a response to the war between Israel and Hamas and the pounding air and ground offensive aimed at the Gaza Strip, although ties with the ships targeted in the rebel attacks have become weaker – or even non-existent – ​​as the attacks continue.

Private intelligence firm Ambrey also confirmed the earlier attack on Al Jasrah.

“The projectile reportedly struck the port side of the vessel and the impact caused one container to fall overboard,” Ambrey said.

'The projectile caused a 'fire on deck' which was broadcast via 'radio'.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors shipping lanes in the Middle East, also acknowledged the initial attack and warned ships to be careful.

The UKMTO said there were no casualties in the attack on the Al Jasrah, operated by Germany-based shipper Hapag-Lloyd.

The company also said no crew member was injured in the attack.

“Hapag-Lloyd will take additional measures to ensure the safety of our crews,” the company said without elaborating.

MSC, the ship's operator, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen did not immediately acknowledge the attack.

It was not clear whether the attack involved a drone or a missile.

Ambrey noted that Hapag-Lloyd is “known for having offices in the Israeli ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Tel Aviv.”

On Thursday, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that missed a container ship transiting the strait.

The day before, two missiles fired from Houthi territory missed a commercial tanker loaded with Indian-made jet fuel near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Also near the strait, a missile fired by Houthis on Monday evening struck a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea.

Global shipping has become increasingly targeted as the war between Israel and Hamas threatens to become a broader regional conflict — even during a brief lull in fighting that saw Hamas exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The collapse of the ceasefire and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have increased the risk of more naval attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 20 miles (30 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for incoming and outgoing shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it, while an estimated one trillion dollars (780 billion pounds) of goods pass through the strait every year.

In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea near Yemen. The rebels are still holding the ship near the port city of Hodeida.

In addition, an Israeli billionaire's container ship was attacked by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate interim ceasefire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government has been in place for months despite the country's long war.

That has raised concerns that a wider conflict at sea – or a possible retaliatory attack by Western forces – could reignite tensions in the Arab world's poorest country.

Also on Thursday, unknown attackers boarded the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Ruen, operated by Navigation Maritime Bulgare, in the Arabian Sea off the Yemeni island of Socotra, Ambrey and the UKMTO said.

According to Bulgarian media, the ship's 18-member crew came from Angola, Bulgaria and Myanmar.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Friday, the UKMTO warned shippers, saying the Ruen's security manager “believes the crew is no longer in control of the ship” and that it is headed to Somalia.

Somali piracy has declined in recent years, but there are growing concerns that it could resume amid the broader chaos of Houthi attacks and political uncertainty gripping Somalia.