The U.S. military launched its latest missile strikes against Houthi rebels near Yemen late Monday, as Iran-backed militants continue to threaten shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

U.S. Central Command reported that the attack on two anti-ship cruise missiles posed an imminent threat to ships in the area.

The attack came hours after a suspected Houthi attack on a container ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The British Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) said the attack occurred about 170 kilometers southeast of the port of Aden in Yemen.

UKMTO said the crew were safe and the ship was heading to its next port of call.

British maritime security company Ambrey identified the ship as a Liberian-flagged, Israeli-owned container ship and said the ship sustained some damage from a fire caused by an explosion during the attack.

The Houthis said they carried out the attack in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and would continue their operations until Israel ceases fighting operations in the Gaza Strip.

The attacks disrupted shipping in the Red Sea corridor, which provides a vital shortcut for ships heading to the Mediterranean. Many commercial shipping lines have rerouted their ships, opting for longer and more expensive routes around the continent to avoid the risk of Houthi attacks.

This report contains information from The Associated Press and Reuters.