(NewsNation) — For the first time since the Houthi rebel attacks in Yemen began, an attack Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden turned deadly. Three crew members on a commercial ship were killed as a result of the missile attack, and survivors were forced to abandon the vessel, the U.S. military said.
U.S. Central Command said an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen struck the True Confidence, causing significant damage to the ship.
Four others were injured in the attack as well, three of whom remain in critical condition, according to CENTCOM.
The Houthis claimed they attacked an American ship, but U.S. officials say that is not the case.
The attack on the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence further escalates the conflict on a crucial maritime route linking Asia and the Middle East to Europe that has disrupted global shipping. The Houthis have been launching attacks since November, and the U.S. began an airstrike campaign in January that so far hasn’t halted their attacks.
Two aerial photos released by the U.S. military showed the ship’s bridge and cargo on board ablaze.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers simply doing their jobs, which are some of the hardest jobs in the world, and the ones relied on by the global public for sustainment of supply chains,” CENTCOM said.
For weeks, the U.S. and the U.K. have been carrying out retaliatory measures on the Houthis to try and get the Iran-backed group to relent. So far, they have not. The Red Sea remains a critical shipping corridor that is responsible for about 10% of trade. The State Department said it will continue operations against the group.
“The United States will continue to hold the Houthis accountable for their attacks, which have not just disrupted international commerce, not just disrupted the freedom of navigation in international waters, and not just endangered seafarers, but now tragically killed a number of them,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “So we will continue to hold them accountable, and we call on governments around the world to do the same.”
In recent days, there have been escalations along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Videos of the nation’s Iron Dome intercepting a barrage of rockets were posted to social media.
Lebanon’s prime minister said if a cease-fire deal is reached in Gaza, there’s hope talks will take place to de-escalate threats in the north.
“Today, no one doubts Hezbollah’s ability to retaliate, that it is holding back and not retaliating in a way that opens up huge fronts, because it is keen, at present, to reach stability in southern Lebanon,” Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.
But as things stand, talks appear to be at a stalemate in Cairo. Hamas wants an end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli troops, while Israel wants a list of all hostages who are still alive. So far, there is no deal between the two sides.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.