FLASH
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Two ballistic missiles were fired from Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels at a US warship in the Gulf of Aden.
The US Navy responded to a distress call from a merchant tanker that had been attacked by armed individuals.
"The tanker, identified as Central Park, was carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid when its crew called for assistance that they were under attack by an unknown craft ," US Central Command said in a statement.
CNN reports that the incident comes after Iran-backed Houthi forces launched multiple attacks against US interests in the region and Israel since the October 7 Hamas attacks, as fears continue to spread across the region that an Israel-Hamas war can be expanded.
The Houthis are a Shiite political and military organization in Yemen that has been fighting a civil war in the country against a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia. They have expressed support for the Palestinians and organized protests in Yemen against Israel's offensive in Gaza.
A statement from Zodiac Maritime, which manages Central Park, said Sunday that the Liberian-flagged chemical tanker was safe and all crew, vessel and cargo were unharmed. The tanker appears to be linked to an Israeli-owned company; Zodiac Maritime is listed as a business belonging to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Ofer Global, although a spokesman for Zodiac Maritime, Janni Jarvinen, said on Sunday that Zodiac is not owned by Ofer Global.
Since Hamas' attack on Israel, the US has emphasized the priority of avoiding the conflict from spilling over into a wider conflict in the region, as US forces in Iraq and Syria have also come under regular attack from Iran-backed groups.
Among the groups Tehran supports, the Houthis are of particular concern as they are more independent of Iran than some others. The Houthi navy issued a warning in a statement last week about ships in the Red Sea flying the Israeli flag, managed by Israeli companies or owned by Israelis.
The group declared its intention to continue military operations against Israeli vessels and interests until Israel's aggression against Gaza stops. The statement warned any military unit that provides protection to Israeli ships, stating that they will be considered legitimate targets for Houthi operations.
Ryder said Monday that the Pentagon still believes the Israel-Hamas conflict has not yet spread to the region despite the latest attacks.
"We mainly see the conflict between Israel and Hamas. That doesn't mean you haven't seen Iranian proxies trying to take advantage to further their goals," Ryder said.
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