US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed that all four attacks on three commercial ships in the Red Sea on Sunday were carried out with the support of Iran by the Houthis in Yemen.
The US military reported that Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles at three commercial ships, while a US warship shot down three drones in self-defence during the hours-long attack.
What Happened?
The Pentagon said in a statement, “We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available.”
According to CENTCOM, after missile and drone launches from Houthi-controlled territory, the American destroyer USS Carney responded to distress calls and offered assistance.
CENTCOM stated that the attack began around 9:15 a.m. local time (06:15 GMT) in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
A ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer was detected by the USS Carney. “The Carney was conducting a patrol in the Red Sea and detected the attack on the Unity Explorer,” the statement read.
As per the statement, the missile hit near the ship. Shortly after, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, though it’s unclear whether the destroyer was the target, as stated by CENTCOM.
Today, there were four attacks against three separate commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea. These three vessels are connected to 14 separate nations. The Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer USS CARNEY responded to the distress calls from the…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 3, 2023
About thirty minutes later, a missile hit Unity Explorer. The Carney shot down another incoming drone while attending to its distress call. CENTCOM reported that the missile caused minor damage to the Unity Explorer.
Missiles also struck two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II. Per CENTCOM, the Number 9 sustained some damage but suffered no casualties, and the Sophie II suffered no significant damage.
“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,” CENTCOM said. “They have jeopardised the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.”
“We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran,” the statement read.
In concluding remarks, the US military said it “will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners.”
Houthis’ Statement
Yemen’s Houthi movement said in a statement that its navy used an armed drone and a naval missile to attack two Israeli ships, the Unity Explorer and Number 9. A military spokesperson for the group said the two ships were targeted after they rejected warnings, but did not elaborate.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed two of Sunday’s attacks, stating the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree made no mention of any US warships being involved.
The spokesperson said in a broadcast statement that the attacks were in response to Yemeni people’s demands and calls from Islamic nations to stand with the Palestinian people.
“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree remarked.
He added, “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”
BREAKING: The Yemeni Armed Forces say they struck two Israeli ships in the Red Sea, using missiles and drones. The US says one of its warships returned fire.
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) December 3, 2023
Yemen has pledged to block any Israeli ships from passing through the Red and Arabian Seas until the siege of Gaza ends. pic.twitter.com/pNhdapSXRf
Houthi Attacks on Israel
Reports suggest that the Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as drones and missiles targeting Israel.
In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship, in the Red Sea off Yemen, which was also linked to Israel. The ship is still in rebel hands near the port city of Hodeida.
Missiles also landed near another US warship last week after it aided an Israeli-linked vessel that gunmen briefly seized.
Separately, an Israeli billionaire’s container ship was recently attacked in the Indian Ocean by a suspected Iranian drone.
However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans in some time, raising the stakes in the escalating maritime conflict. In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory in retaliation for missiles fired at US Navy ships at the time.
US Actions Supporting Israel
The USS Carney shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in October, which the Pentagon said were potentially headed toward targets in Israel.
According to several US officials, the USS Carney was not the target of any of the Houthi missiles or drones.
US Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing, “We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea potentially to targets in Israel.”
Despite this, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi was quoted in October as saying that if the US intervened directly in the Gaza conflict, his group would respond by firing drones and missiles, among other military options.