Several ships appear to have come under fire from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. According to the US Secretary of Defense, there are reports that the destroyer USS Carney was also targeted.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen appear to have again attacked ships in the Red Sea. According to them, they attacked two Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait with missiles and drones, Houthi military spokesman Jahja Sari said. According to Houthi information, the two ships are “Unity Explorer” and “Number 9”.
The US Department of Defense said there were indications that a US Navy destroyer was also targeted. This was not confirmed at first. “We are aware of reports of attacks on the USS Carney and merchant ships in the Red Sea,” the Pentagon said.
“Unity Explorer” was heading towards Singapore. She is owned by a British shipping company and sails under the Bahamas flag. “Number 9” was on its way to Suez. She sails under the Panamanian flag and is operated by British company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, part of the German shipping group Schulte Group.
The Houthis did not mention the shelling of the USS Carney
However, the Houthis did not claim any apparent responsibility for the attack on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer “USS Carney”. The Pentagon said it would provide more details as they became available.
A ballistic missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen landed near a merchant ship in the Red Sea, and the USS Carney was nearby and responded to the ship’s distress call, a senior U.S. official told ABC News. No injuries were reported, the official said.
The British military has not previously disclosed details of the suspected drone strike and explosions in the Red Sea.
Houthi rebels have previously threatened to attack all ships bound for Israel. Sari said all ships flying the Israeli flag, owned by Israeli companies or operated by Israeli companies were targeted. He repeated the threat on Sunday as well. He did not say to what extent the two ships that were just attacked were related to Israel.
Houthi rebels have recently carried out several attacks on ships in the Red Sea and have launched drones and rockets at Israel. A car transporter in contact with Israel was detained.
Concern over escalation in the region
One of the world’s most important shipping lanes runs along the coast of Yemen to the Suez Canal in Egypt. The canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea; Ten percent of world trade passes through this route.
Missiles have already struck next to another US warship last week after helping a ship allegedly hijacked at short notice by militants off Somalia.
A direct attack on a US warship would further escalate the situation in the region. US military sources said shelling from Yemen continued for several hours. During this time the “USS Carney” intercepted at least one drone.
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