Three commercial vessels came under attack by missile and drone strikes tracked back to Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen as they sailed the international waters of the southern Red Sea on Sunday night. The USS Carney, an American destroyer, quickly responded to their distress calls. The Yemeni Houthi group claimed responsibility, alleging that they had targeted two “Israeli” ships, the Unity Explorer and the Number 9, for ignoring warnings.
The spokesperson for the Houthi militia cited solidarity with the Palestinian people in response to demands from the Yemeni populace as a reason for the attack.
According to marine security firm Aubrey, the Unity Explorer was hit by at least two unmanned aerial vehicles, and the Number 9 apparently also sustained physical damage from a UAV.
Houthi Armed Forces are aiming to keep Israeli ships out of Red and Arab waterways until Israel’s assault on Gaza finishes.
They have issued additional warnings to any Israeli ships and those associated with Israelis that if they violate the directives to stay clear of Yemeni waters, they will become a legitimate target.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, Houthi rebels have launched volleys of cruise missiles and attack drones at Israel and US assets in the area.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari refuted any Israeli connection to the targeted ships. Unity Explorer, a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier, and Number 9, a Panama-flagged container ship, reported varying degrees of damage.
The Sophie II was the third ship assaulted, and it was also hit by a missile but with no significant damage reported.
The US Central Command regarded the attacks on international trade and marine security to be a direct threat, endangering the lives of sailors from many countries. The United States has pledged to work with international allies and partners to put essential measures in place.
Last month, the USS Thomas Hudner shot down several one-way attack drones fired from Yemen by the Houthis. A week ago, two ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen toward the USS Mason in the Gulf of Aden, after it reacted to a distress call from another commercial tanker that had been attacked by five armed Somalis.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in an increase in maritime vessel attacks, raising concerns about the wider implications on international shipping and security.