US Central Command has confirmed that the Houthis carried out an attack on the Norwegian vessel Strinda while it was navigating the Red Sea. Official reports from ministry representatives were relayed to authorities, and the disclosure came via the command’s public communications channel on X, the social network.
The incident occurred on December 11, as CENTCOM detailed, when an anti-ship cruise missile was launched from Yemen toward a vessel traversing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. A United States Navy destroyer, the Mason, has been actively assisting the Strinda’s crew during the ongoing response.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the Strinda is a commercial oil and chemical carrier. Following the missile strike, defensive fire was directed at the ship. Early information suggests there were no reported injuries among the crew or passengers.
Earlier updates described another Houthi action against a British-flag merchant vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb region. It was noted that unmanned aerial systems were used in that attack, and that U.S. and Israeli naval units engaged to counter the threat and support allied shipping lanes.
In related developments, officials stated that the United States plans to broaden its military footprint in the Red Sea region to bolster maritime security and protect international navigation corridors.