Yemen's Houthis claim fresh missile attack against British commercial vessel

Yemen's Houthi forces on Thursday claimed responsibility for launching a new missile attack against a British commercial vessel in the Red Sea.

"In support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and response to the U.S.-British aggression on our country (Yemen), we targeted a British commercial ship at the Red Sea which was heading to the ports of Israel," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV.

"The operations against Israel in the Red Sea will continue until Israel stops its war on Gaza and lifts its siege on the Palestinian people," he said.

It is the third attack claimed by the armed Houthi group in less than 24 hours.

On Wednesday night, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for missile attacks against a U.S. navy warship in the Red Sea and another U.S. commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that its navy forces intercepted the Houthi missile attack on the warship but gave no details on the other Houthi attack on the U.S. commercial vessel.

Shipping disruption hits UK

Tensions have been escalating in the region, where the Houthi group's continuing attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted international shipping lines.

The UK's manufacturing sector continued its downturn in January amid rising supply chain difficulties caused by the recent Red Sea crisis, a business survey said on Thursday.

The S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index posted 47.0 in January, below the earlier flash estimate of 47.3. The index has signaled a deterioration in operating conditions every month for the past 18 months.

January saw the sector's output and new orders decline further, leading to additional job losses and cutbacks in purchasing and stock holdings, the survey noted.

In addition, rising geopolitical tensions over the Red Sea route to the Suez Canal led to a marked increase in average vendor lead times during January, as inputs ordered from overseas were re-routed around the lower tip of Africa.

"Cost and stock management initiatives are being complicated by the Red Sea crisis," said Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Some of our panel members estimate that a minimum of 12-18 days could be added to some expected deliveries, disrupting production schedules and raising inflationary pressures at a time when manufacturers are already struggling with weak demand both at home and overseas," Dobson added.

(With input from Xinhua)