On Tuesday, February 13, the US military provided further details regarding the Houthis’ recent attack on a cargo ship bound for Iran, occurring just a day prior. Concurrently, a security official quoted by Reuters suggested that the attack was premeditated.
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), between 3:30 and 3:45 a.m. on Monday, two missiles were launched from areas under Houthi control at the bulk carrier MV STAR IRIS as it traversed the Bab al-Mandab Strait. CENTCOM clarified that the vessel, flagged under the Marshall Islands but owned by Greece, was transporting a cargo of corn from Brazil to Iran’s Khomeini Port.
While the Houthis’ attack caused ‘minor damage’ to the ship, CENTCOM assured that the crew remained unharmed, and the vessel was able to proceed on its intended route. A spokesperson from the US Department of State confirmed that the ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis did not strike the MV STAR IRIS, instead landing in nearby waters without causing injury.
The spokesperson emphasized that Houthi assaults on commercial shipping, with alleged backing from Iran, pose a significant threat to the global economy and food supply, including Iran’s. The US State Department decried this as yet another instance of Iran’s regime supporting terrorism and endorsing destabilizing activities, cautioning that such actions would adversely affect all regional populations, including Iranians.
Earlier, Yahya Sare’e, the Houthis’ spokesperson, asserted in a televised statement that the targeted ship was American. However, maritime sources later confirmed that the vessel was Greek-owned, flying the Marshall Islands flag, and destined for Iran.
Reuters reported, citing shipping sources, that this incident marked the first instance of a ship en route to Iran being targeted since the onset of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea amid the Gaza conflict. A commodity analyst from Kpler suggested to Reuters that the ship may not have deviated from its Red Sea route, unlike other carriers, due to assumptions of insider knowledge regarding its destination and an absence of fear regarding Houthi attacks supported by Iran.
Contrary to this speculation, a regional security official informed Reuters that the attack was likely orchestrated to demonstrate the Houthis’ autonomy from Iranian control. This official suggested that the Houthis had already notified Tehran about the impending strike.
It’s estimated that Iran will import approximately 4.5 million tons of corn from Brazil this year, with Brazil serving as its largest corn exporter. Notably, Iranian regime authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the Houthi attack on the cargo ship. Trade and transportation of food products remain exempt from US sanctions against Iran.
Since mid-November, the Iran-backed Houthis, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians, have repeatedly targeted both commercial and military vessels, demanding an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Officials from Iran’s regime maintain that ‘resistance’ groups like the Houthis operate independently. The regime commonly refers to its proxy entities in the region as ‘Resistance’.
Recent Houthi attacks have prompted several major shipping companies to reroute their vessels away from the Red Sea, opting for longer and costlier routes.
