Recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea have raised concerns as a new U.S. aircraft carrier heads towards the region to safeguard the vital international trade route. The assaults come amidst heightened tensions following the Israel-Hamas conflict that began nine months ago.
On Monday, three small Houthi vessels, including two crewed and one uncrewed, targeted the Panama-flagged MT Bently I, owned by Israel, off the coast of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The British and American authorities reported that the uncrewed craft collided with the vessel twice, while the manned crafts fired at it. The ship managed to defend itself, forcing the attackers to retreat after 15 minutes. The captain later reported multiple missile attacks near the vessel.
In a separate incident on the same day, the MT Chios Lion, an oil tanker flying the Liberian flag and owned by the Marshall Islands, was attacked by an uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle. The attack caused some damage and light smoke on the port side of the vessel. Fortunately, all crew members on both ships remained unharmed.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks on Bently I and Chios Lion, while the U.S. Central Command confirmed the incidents and condemned the reckless actions of the Iranian-backed rebels. The Central Command emphasized that such behavior jeopardizes regional stability and poses a threat to the lives of mariners in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Furthermore, U.S. forces destroyed five uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicles on Monday, aiming to counter the rebel group's aggressive tactics. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is en route to the Middle East to replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which has been stationed in the Red Sea to deter Houthi attacks.
Since November, the rebels have targeted over 70 vessels using missiles and drones, resulting in casualties and vessel seizures. The Joint Maritime Information Center reported a surge in Houthi attacks on merchant ships in June, with the U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the rebels since January.
The Houthis claim their attacks are in support of Hamas in its conflict with Israel, targeting ships linked to Israel, the U.S., or the UK. However, some attacked vessels have no connection to the conflict, including those bound for Iran, a Houthi ally.
Last week, the rebels launched missiles at a U.S.-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Aden, marking their longest-range attack on a U.S. vessel near the Arabian Sea. The targeted ship was identified as the Maersk Sentosa, owned by the Danish shipping giant Maersk.
