5 rockets land near a ship in the Red Sea. Probably the latest attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A ship transiting the Red Sea was repeatedly hit by missiles on Friday, authorities said, in what is believed to be an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The latest attack targeted the crucial sea route.

Five rockets hit near the ship as it was sailing off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeidah in Yemen, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said.

The missiles hit close to the ship but caused no damage, the UKTMO added.

The Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but it may take hours or even days for them to admit to an attack.

The rebels have attacked more than 60 ships with missiles and drones in a campaign that has left four sailors dead. Since November, they have captured one ship and sunk two. A US-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January. In a series of attacks on May 30, at least 16 people were killed and 42 others injured, according to the rebels.

The Houthis claim their attacks are directed against ships with links to Israel, the US or Britain. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the war between Israel and Hamas – including some that were heading for Iran.

Late Tuesday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, military spokesman for the Houthis, said the group was responsible for an attack on Monday on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed container ship MSC Sarah V. On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed they used a new hypersonic missile in the attack that targeted a vessel farther away than almost all of their previous attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

The US Central Command also said it had destroyed a Houthis radar station. Another attack on Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden was probably carried out by the Houthis, although they have not yet claimed responsibility. On Thursday, the Houthis also carried out an attack in the Red Sea.