Yemen’s Houthis Attack Cargo Ship En Route to Iran, Causing Minor Damage

By Nayera Abdallah and Jonathan Saul

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) – On Monday, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched two missiles at a cargo ship heading to Iran in the Red Sea, resulting in minor damage to the vessel but no reported injuries among the crew, according to U.S. military officials.

This early morning incident marks the first instance of the Houthis targeting an Iran-bound vessel since they began attacks on international shipping in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, shipping sources indicated.

U.S. Central Command reported on social media that “Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb.” The missiles were aimed at the MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship transporting corn from Brazil.

Officials noted that the ship declared itself seaworthy, sustaining only minor damage, and that there were no crew injuries. The MV Star Iris was confirmed to be en route to Bandar Imam Khomeini in Iran.

Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, erroneously claimed the ship was American, while maritime tracking data confirmed it was Greek-owned. There were indications that the vessel had maintained its course through the Red Sea, potentially reflecting a belief that it would not be targeted by the Houthis due to its destination.

A regional security expert suggested that the attack was a demonstration of the Houthis’ autonomy from Iran, stating they likely informed Tehran before launching the missiles.

Since mid-November, Houthi militants, who control several key regions in Yemen, have repeatedly targeted international commercial vessels, focusing on those with connections to the United States, Britain, or Israel. This surge in attacks has led some shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea altogether in favor of a longer, more costly route around Africa. In response, U.S. and British warplanes have conducted retaliatory strikes across Yemen.

The Star Iris, a large panamax bulk carrier, is operated by Star Bulk Carriers, a company based in Athens and listed on NASDAQ. A spokesperson for Star Bulk directed inquiries to the U.S.-led coalition responsible for countering such attacks.

While Iranian officials did not provide comments regarding the incident, it is important to note that Iran’s food commodities trade is exempt from U.S. sanctions.

According to British maritime security firm Ambrey, the Star Iris sustained damage to its starboard side after a projectile was spotted near the vessel, which was located approximately 23 nautical miles northeast of Djibouti’s Khor Angar and 40 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s port city of Mokha. The firm reported that the crew was unharmed and that the vessel was continuing to its next destination.