Yemen’s Houthi movement has launched a missile strike in the Red Sea against a vessel identified as the U.S. ship Pinocchio, said the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, on Tuesday.

The Houthis planned to intensify their attacks during Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, Mr Sarea said.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations announced an incident concerning the Liberian-flagged container vessel Pinocchio.

The incident took place 71 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, a port under Houthi control, on Monday. No casualties or ship damage have been reported.

Houthi media outlets also reported nine airstrikes on Monday by what they described as a U.S.-British coalition in areas around Hodeidah port.

The strikes were aimed at military positions held by the Houthis.

Since November, the Houthis have increasingly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which they claim is in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Gaza.

In response, the United States and Britain launched air and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen starting in mid-January.

However, rather than deterring or degrading the group’s capabilities, these strikes appear to have prompted further escalation from the Houthi forces. 

(Xinhua/NAN)