US Navy Reports Attack On Three Commercial Ships In Southern Red Sea

Three commercial ships were attacked in the Red Sea’s international waters on Sunday, according to US military sources, as Houthi militants declared their responsibility for the most recent invasion in the Middle East, where tension has been rising since the Israel-Hamas conflict started.

The attacks pose a direct threat to global commerce and maritime security, the US Central Command stated in a statement. They have endangered the lives of international personnel representing various nations around the world.

Between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, a major maritime path passes through the sea. Since Hamas’ terror strike on Israel on October 7 triggered the war, the Pentagon has reported a series of missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea from Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen.

There are reasons to believe that the attacks, while launched by Houthis in Yemen, are entirely enabled by Iran. CENTCOM highlights that the United States will consider any suitable responses in full collaboration with its international allies and partners.

Per the Pentagon, US soldiers have been regularly attacked by the Iran-backed proxies in Syria and Iraq since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, prompting many retaliation strikes.

The three commercial vessels, or merchant vessels, have been identified in a statement issued on Sunday as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by the United Kingdom but registered in the Bahamas; the Number 9, which is registered in Panama but owned and operated in the United Kingdom and Bermuda; and the Sophie II, registered with Panama.

As reported by CENTCOM, the missile attacks occurred over seven hours on Sunday: the first on Unity Explorer, but that missile detonated in a nearby area, and the second time targeted the Unity Explorer, which suffered minor damages from that hit. The Number 9 was subsequently attacked by a missile, and the Sophie II was hit about an hour later.

CENTCOM reported that there were no casualties.

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer that was patrolling the region, intercepted as well as shot down three drones when aiding the vessels on Sunday, according to CENTCOM. At least one was from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

The vessel was unharmed. It’s unclear whether the Carney – which has downed numerous such missiles in the past – was the primary target of these drones.

The Houthis declared in a statement that they had targeted two commercial ships since they were related to Israelis and had dismissed warnings from Houthi forces.

Per their statement, the Houthis will continue to hinder Israeli vessels from navigating the Arab and Red Seas until Israeli aggression against their brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, referring to the war with Hamas following its terror strike.

Per a US official, many commercial ships that are involved are thought to have ties to Israel.

Reference: abcnews

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Source: Maritime Shipping News