Houthi rebels backed by Iran attack UK-owned ship in Red Sea

Six Houthi ballistic missiles have attacked two ships in the Red Sea including a freighter owned by a London-based company, causing minor damage.

The US military's Central Command said three of the missiles targeted the Barbados-flagged MV Morning Tide, whose British owner Furadino Shipping has offices on Baker Street.

Furadino said that no one was hurt in Tuesday's attack and that the ship was continuing southward to its destination of Singapore.

The attack in the southern part of the Red Sea occurred west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, with the projectile causing "slight damage" to the Morning Tide’s bridge windows, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

A small vessel had appeared on the port side of the 8,999-ton cargo ship shortly before the attack, it quoted its master as saying.

The three other missiles attempted to hit MV Star Nasia, a Marshall Island-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden, according to Central Command.

One of the missiles caused an explosion near the ship and minor damage, but no injuries, while a second hit the water, it said. The third was shot down by the USS Laboon, a US Navy destroyer that was operating nearby.

Central Command said MV Star Nasia remained seaworthy and was continuing on to its destination, the Indian port of Visakhapatnam.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have been targeting Red Sea shipping ostensibly in solidarity with the Palestinians after Israel invaded Gaza, sparking retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain.

Fears of a wider war with Tehran have grown after US air strikes targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in retaliation for a drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan.

HMS Richmond has meanwhile taken over Royal Navy responsibility for protecting shipping in the Red Sea, with the Houthi attacks on vessels continuing despite the UK-US strikes in Yemen.

The Type 23 frigate replaces HMS Diamond, which has come under fire from the Houthis on three occasions during its time on duty in the region.