DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - In the latest attack threatening shipping in the crucial maritime chokepoint, a missile fired from Houthi rebel-controlled territory in Yemen narrowly missed a container ship traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to a U.S. defense official.

The incident occurred on Thursday when the missile splashed harmlessly into the water near the Maersk Gibraltar, a Hong Kong-flagged container ship en route from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the missile was fired by Houthi rebels who had hailed the vessel over the radio as the "Yemeni Navy" and demanded an alteration of its course.

The attack comes in the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has prompted the Houthis to intensify their pressure campaign. Just the day before, two missiles fired from Houthi-held territory narrowly missed a commercial tanker loaded with Indian-manufactured jet fuel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Prior to that, a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea was struck by a Houthi-launched missile on Monday night.

These seaborne attacks are part of the Houthi rebels' strategy to target vessels in the Red Sea and launch drones and missiles towards Israel. In recent days, they have also threatened to attack any vessel they believe is heading towards or coming from Israel, even if there is no apparent link.

The global shipping industry has increasingly become a target as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, is a crucial passage for international trade, with nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passing through it. It also sees an estimated $1 trillion worth of goods annually.

In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea. The rebels continue to hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Another incident involved a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire, which came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

Despite a tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's exiled government, concerns arise about the possibility of wider conflicts and potential reprisal strikes from Western forces, which could reignite tensions in the war-torn nation.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, responsible for monitoring Mideast shipping lanes, issued an alert about the incident in the strait. As maritime security remains a top concern, authorities will continue to be vigilant in safeguarding vessels passing through this vital waterway.