In a significant escalation of hostilities, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have executed their most extensive attack on merchant vessels in the Red Sea to date, according to American officials. The assault targeted approximately 50 merchant vessels in two key locations, namely the Southwest of Mokha and Hodeidah in Yemen.
A senior Defense Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the operation, confirmed awareness of the incident, emphasizing its magnitude. The attacks, carried out on Tuesday evening, involved rocket fire and armed drones directed at the crews of the targeted vessels.
Despite the intensity of the assault, as of Tuesday evening, no reports of damage to the vessels had been received. Responding to the situation, four coalition warships were deployed to the area, as disclosed by Pentagon officials to CNBC. Notably, no Iranian warships were reported to be involved in the incident.
“This is the largest attack on commercial shipping,” stated a national security official in response to the unprecedented scale of the assault. This marked the first major offensive by the Houthis since a joint statement by 13 nations, including the United States, condemning and pledging to hold the militants accountable for attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
CENTCOM (United States Central Command) reported that an unmanned aerial drone launched by the Houthis was successfully intercepted and shot down by the U.S.S. Laboon (DDG 59) on January 6.
Global maritime security firm Ambrey reported that coalition warships were swiftly mobilized at “maximum speed.” Witnesses aboard a tanker in the vicinity of Mokha reported observing flares or missile trails in the waters, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Eyewitness accounts from a bulk carrier crew revealed that three small vessels were sighted, from which two missiles were fired. Additionally, a drone was reportedly observed flying ahead of the vessel, adding a layer of complexity to the coordinated attack.
The Houthi militia group, with direct backing from Iran, had previously issued a warning in December, asserting that they would persist in their attacks until Gaza received the essential “food and medicines” it required.
The backdrop to these events includes an extensive bombing campaign by Israel in Gaza, prompted by Hamas’s actions that resulted in over 1,000 casualties in Israel. The conflict has seen more than 29,000 munitions launched from the air into Gaza, causing a reported loss of over 20,000 lives, as disclosed by the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing efforts to assess the extent of the damage and potential repercussions in the region.
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