White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre updated reporters on an attack on the M/V True Confidence in which three sailors were killed, adding that the U.S. condemns the attack. (White House - Live)
The White House also condemned the Houthis for the attacks and called on governments from around the world to do the same by joining the U.S. in bringing the "appalling attacks" to a halt.
U.S. Central command said Wednesday's attack resulted in three fatalities and at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition.
The ship was also severely damaged and has been evacuated. It is now drifting.
USS CARNEY SHOOTS DOWN DRONES, MISSILE FIRED BY HOUTHIS IN YEMEN
The Barbados-flagged bulk carrier vessel True Confidence is seen in Ravenna, Italy, in March 2022. The ship was attacked in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. (Dario Bonazza via Reuters / File)
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, wrote on Wednesday that the attack on the True Confidence was carried out in "retaliation to the American-British aggression against our country."
The operators of the ship told Reuters that it was hit about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden.
There were reportedly 20 crew members on board the ship, as well as three armed guards, they added.
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U.S. Central Command said this is the fifth anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthis over the past two days. Two of the missiles struck two shipping vessels, including the MSC Sky II and True Confidence, while a third missile was shot down by the USS Carney.
On March 2, the United Kingdom-owned M/V Rubymar sank in the Red Sea after being struck by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile two weeks prior.
"We currently assess that the damage sustained to the undersea cables in the Red Sea is a result of the Houthis' Feb. 18 missile attack against the M/V Rubymar, which has now sunk," U.S. Army Major Pete Nguyen said. "The damage sustained to the M/V Rubymar as a result of the Houthi attack forced the crew to drop anchor and abandon ship. Preliminary assessments indicate the anchor dragging along the seafloor is likely to have cut the undersea cables that provide internet and telecommunications service around the world. Ongoing Houthi attacks have also hindered attempts to repair the cables. Despite their claims to the contrary, this incident highlights how the Houthis’ reckless actions can detrimentally impact others in the region."
Fox News' Greg Norman and Meghan Tome contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
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