The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen fired a missile that struck the Maersk Hangzhou in the Red Sea on Saturday, according to U.S. Central Command — the first successful strike against a commercial ship since the U.S. formed a coalition to deter attacks.
The Biden administration has been unwilling, thus far, to attack Houthi missile sites or naval assets directly, and has instead tried to deter Houthi attacks by sending naval vessels to the region and shooting down drones and missiles — apparently to little avail.
The Times of Israel reported:
The US Central Command says the Maersk Hangzhou container ship reported being struck by a missile while sailing through the Red Sea, seemingly the first successful attack since the launch of an international coalition to patrol the key waterway 10 days ago.
An American warship, the USS Gravely, shot down two more ballistic…