Another Ship Hit In Red Sea, Pressure Rises On US To Respond

Wires reporting that according to three maritime sources, the Maltese-flagged dry bulker Zografia has been hit by a missile in the Red Sea, around 100NM north-west of the Yemeni town of Saleef, sustaining minor damage. This is the second ship to be hit by a missile, assumed to have been fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen, in less than 24 hours following the US-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged Gibraltar Eagle being struckon 15 Jan.

• As our Commodities team noted earlier today (see 0822GMT bullet 'US andUK Ships Under Houthi Threat in Red Sea'), the US/UK airstrikes on Houthi targets over the weekend have seen the Iranian-backed Houthi forces designated US and UK-linked ships as legitimate targets.
• The continued Houthi attacks would seemingly raise the prospect of further US-led strikes on targets in Yemen. However, this comes with major risks for the US and its allies as none of the countries involved in Operation Prosperity Guardian will want the costly and politically divisive prospect of becoming embroiled in a lengthy conflict in the region.