Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group fired missiles at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea but did not hit the vessel, the US Central Command said, Reuters reports.

Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired at the Pinocchio from Yemeni territory, CENTCOM said, resulting in no damage or injuries.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea earlier said the group had targeted and hit the ship, which he described as “American”.

The Pinocchio is a Liberian-flagged container ship owned by Singapore-registered company OM-MAR 5 INC, according to shipping databases operated by Equasis and the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Sarea said the Houthi group would escalate their military operations during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians in response to the conflict in Gaza.