On Tuesday night, the U.S. military announced that U.S. and coalition forces had intercepted and shot down five drones belonging to the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
These drones, launched from areas in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents, posed a significant threat to merchant vessels, as well as to U.S. Navy and coalition ships operating in the region, according to U.S. Central Command.
These strikes mark the latest in a series of actions undertaken by the U.S. and its allies to counter the Houthis’ attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis and coalition forces has led to heightened tensions in the region, with the Houthis claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza.
The repeated attacks by the Houthis have prompted many shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea corridor, opting instead for the longer and costlier route around the African continent to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews.
The most recent suspected Houthi attack occurred late Tuesday, approximately 110 kilometers west of Yemen’s port of Hodeida. Reports from maritime security firms indicated that a rocket exploded near a vessel, which fortunately sustained no damage and continued on its course to its next port of call.
According to British security firm Ambrey, the vessel involved in the incident appeared to be a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges and risks faced by shipping companies operating in the Red Sea region due to the conflict and the actions of insurgent groups like the Houthis.
