The US military said Sunday night that Yemen’s Houthi rebels had fired ballistic missiles at three commercial ships in the Red Sea.
In self-defence, a US warship also shot down three drones during the hours-long attack. Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for two of the attacks.
The strikes marked an escalation in a series of naval attacks in the Middle East linked to the war between Israel and Hamas. It was the first time in the entire conflict that multiple ships were in the crosshairs of a single Houthi attack.
The US pledged to “consider all appropriate responses” to the attack, particularly by reaching out to Iran, as tensions over Tehran’s fast-developing nuclear programme have persisted for several years. The US military’s Central Command said in a statement:
“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. 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 attack began around 9.15am local time (0615 GMT) in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, Central Command said. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship, the US said. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, although it is not clear if the destroyer was the target, Central Command said.
About 30 minutes later, a missile hit the Unity Explorer. While responding to its distress call, the Carney shot down another incoming drone. Central Command said the Unity Explorer sustained minor damage from the missile.
Missiles struck both two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II. The Number 9 reported some damage but no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no significant damage, Central Command said. While sailing to the aid of the Sophie II at around 16:30 local time (1330 GMT), the Carney ship shot down another drone heading in its direction. The drones caused no damage.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Carney has shot down several Houthi rockets fired towards Israel during that country’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The destroyer was not damaged in either incident and its crew was not injured. The defence ministry initially described the attack as simply an attack on the Carney ship, before providing more details.
Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sari said there were two Sunday attacks. He said the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Mr Saree noted:
“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. 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.”
Mr Sari also identified the first vessel as Unity Explorer, owned by a British firm, one of whose officers is Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel. The Number 9 vessel is associated with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, while Sophie II is associated with Japan’s Kyowa Kisen Co Ltd. The managers of the three vessels could not be reached for comment. Israeli media describe Mr Ungar as the son of Israeli billionaire Abraham Ungar.
Iran has not yet made any comment on the attack. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian threatened that “if the current situation continues, the region will enter a new phase” of war between Israel and Hamas. He said:
“All parties who are after igniting a war are warned, before it’s too late stop the killing of women and children, of which a new round has started.”
The Houthis have carried out a number of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and have also launched drones and rockets aimed at Israel. Some analysts suggest the Houthis are hoping to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between them and Saudi-backed forces.
The US has not said its ships were attacked, but said Houthi drones headed towards the ships and were shot down in self-defence. Washington has so far refused to respond directly to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to try to explain that the ships have nothing to do with their country.
