The US on Tuesday (January 16, 2024) said 'Iranian-backed' Houthi militants have fired a ballistic missile from Yemen which hit an American-owned Cargo ship, escalating the ongoing tension in the region.

The United States military command for the Middle East (Centcom) said the ship, Gibraltar Eagle, reported no 'injuries or significant damage '.

"On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey," Centcom posted on X.

"Earlier in the day, at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes. The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported," the tweet further said.

According to reports, Houthis are attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea that the group says are linked to Israel.

The group claimed the attack was a show of solidarity for Palestinians and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel has continued its campaign on Palestine soil ever since the Hamas group attacked the nation.