An American-flagged ship was hit by a ballistic missile off of Yemen on Friday morning, the latest strike by Israeli military against Hamas militants in Gaza. The attack highlights increasing global shipping tensions amid Israel’s assault.
An anti-ship missile hit the Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier operated by Dryad Global which is partially owned by Israel.
What is a Ballistic Missile?
Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic weapons systems which follow a predetermined trajectory from their point of launch to their targets. Ballistic missiles may carry conventional high explosives, chemical or biological agents or nuclear warheads and be launched from aircraft, ships, submarines or land-based silos.
Houthi rebels have been conducting attacks in the Red Sea, purporting them as solidarity strikes against Israel’s war with Palestinian militants in Gaza. Both the US and UK have responded with air and sea strikes against Houthis forces located in Yemen.
On Sunday, a cruise missile fired by Houthi rebels targeting USS Laboon was intercepted and shot down by a United States F-15 jet fighter jet in response to US strikes against Houthis military positions in the Gulf of Aden. This escalated tensions over global shipping further while raising worries that Iran-backed rebel attacks could spark wider conflict. According to reports by U.K. Maritime Trade Operations security agency Ambrey said the vessel was hit from above while adding that targeting came as response for US strikes on Houthis military positions that targeted Houthis as part of US strikes against Houthis military positions targeted in response for US strikes that hit Houthis military positions targeted.
Gulf of Aden
Long-range ballistic missiles (LRBMs) are rocket-propelled, self-guided weapons systems which use rocket propulsion to deliver payloads from their launch site to predetermined targets. Launch sites include aircraft, ships, submarines and land-based silos and may carry conventional high explosives or chemical, biological or nuclear munitions.
Houthi rebels of Yemen fired an anti-ship cruise missile into shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. A US fighter jet intercepted this cruise missile; this attack marks another in a string of US and British strikes against Houthi targets that has caused havoc with global shipping routes.
Target in this instance was the Marshall Islands-flagged Gibraltar Eagle, owned and operated by American-based Eagle Bulk Shipping. No injuries or significant damage was reported, so the UK Maritime Trade Operations security agency advised all vessels transiting with caution.
What is a Short-Range Ballistic Missile?
Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) may feature both conventional and nuclear warheads; submunitions or penetrators that penetrate armored vehicles or bunkers being the latter case.
An SRBM uses liquid fuel while an ICBM, or strategic ballistic missile, utilizes solid propellants. Missiles are further classified based on their range; for instance, submarine-launched ballistic missiles tend to have longer range than land-attack cruise missiles; ultimately IRBMs provide the longest reach among them all.
US Central Command reported that Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship missile at a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship owned by Stamford, Connecticut-based Eagle Bulk Shipping and registered under Marshall Islands law. As per Central Command, M/V Gibraltar Eagle sustained limited cargo hold damage but no injuries to crew members, with it continuing its voyage toward its Gulf of Aden destination. The incident increased tensions across the region where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting vessels supposedly linked with Israel amid war with Palestinian militants from Gaza.
Bab al-Mandeb strait
A cruise missile is a guided weapon designed to strike targets on land or at sea. Whereas ballistic missiles typically use rocket engines as power sources, cruise missiles typically rely on turbofan engines like those found on tactical aircraft to propel themselves along their flight paths trajectories resulting in lower altitude travel with much straighter paths compared to ballistic missiles.
Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping in Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb strait, the narrow passageway that connects its western and northern regions with the Gulf of Aden. A missile launched from Houthi rebel territory struck Eagle Bulk Shipping’s Marshall Islands-flagged Gibraltar Eagle on Monday but no injuries or significant damage was caused – this ship continued on its journey without interruption from this incident. Central Command reports no significant injuries as a result.
Cruise missile critics contend they are an expensive addition to our arsenal, while proponents point out their low radar cross section and reduced infrared and visual signature makes them a useful weapon against extremists. They are also cheaper than human pilots when training and infrastructure costs are considered.
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