Two suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted ships in the Red Sea on Monday, as a new U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region to provide security for the key international trade route that has been under assault since the Israel-Hamas war erupted nine months ago.
The first targeted ship reported being attacked by three small vessels off the coast of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The vessels were reported to have collided with the ship and fired at it, but the ship managed to conduct self-protection measures, forcing the attackers to abort the attack. Subsequently, two waves of missile attacks were launched at the vessel.
In a separate incident also off the coast of Al Hudaydah, another vessel reported being attacked by a suspected uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle, causing some damage and light smoke on the port side of the ship. Fortunately, both ships and crew are reported safe.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that its forces destroyed two uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicles and an uncrewed surface vessel in the Red Sea. The Houthis have targeted over 70 vessels with missiles and drones, resulting in casualties and the sinking of two ships since November.
The Houthis claim that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or Britain in support of Hamas. However, many of the targeted ships have little to no connection to the conflict, including those bound for Iran, a backer of the Houthis.
Last week, the Houthis launched missiles at a U.S.-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Aden, marking their longest-range attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel near the Arabian Sea. The targeted vessel was identified as the Maersk Sentosa, a ship belonging to the Danish shipping company Maersk.
The situation in the Red Sea remains tense as the USS Theodore Roosevelt approaches the region to replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in countering the Houthi threats. International efforts continue to monitor and address the escalating attacks on maritime vessels in the region.
