Recent Attacks on Commercial Ships in the Red Sea
Over the weekend, three commercial ships were struck by ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The U.S. military reported that a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the assault. The attacks have been linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, marking an escalation in maritime conflicts in the region.
According to the U.S. military’s Central Command, the attacks pose a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security, jeopardizing the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. The U.S. has vowed to consider all appropriate responses to the attacks, specifically calling out Iran for enabling the Houthi assaults.
The assault began in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, with the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detecting a ballistic missile fired at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship, and the Carney shot down a drone shortly afterward. Two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, were also struck by missiles.
The attacks have raised concerns about the safety of global shipping in the region, as tensions continue to rise over the Israel-Hamas war and Iran’s involvement in enabling the Houthi assaults. The U.S. and Israel have so far declined to directly respond to the attacks, but the situation remains volatile as the conflict threatens to become a wider regional conflict.
These recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea have further heightened tensions in the region, posing a significant threat to maritime security and international commerce. The U.S. and its allies are closely monitoring the situation and considering appropriate responses to ensure the safety of shipping in the area.
Houthi attacks are a serious threat, good job by the US warship in taking down the drones.