In a recent development, a U.S. naval ship has successfully intercepted multiple Houthi drones in the Red Sea, responding to reported attacks on commercial vessels. The Pentagon, on Sunday, acknowledged the situation and issued a statement, stating, “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.”
Later in the day, a National Security Council official offered preliminary assessments, suggesting that the commercial ships, rather than the USS Carney, were the primary targets of the attacks. The incidents unfolded over several hours and are believed to have originated from Houthi-launched missiles, signifying a potential escalation in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The USS Carney, a U.S. naval destroyer, played a crucial role in the response. It detected a ballistic missile aimed at a civilian commercial ship named the “Unity Explorer” and promptly acted upon distress reports from the vessel. As the USS Carney assisted the Unity Explorer, it successfully neutralized another Houthi drone that was approaching both the naval vessel and the commercial ship.
Simultaneously, the Iran-backed Houthi group released a statement claiming responsibility for missile and drone attacks against two ships it believed were associated with Israel in the Red Sea’s Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the Gate of Tears. Notably, the Houthi statement did not mention any attacks on U.S. ships but focused on the “Unity Explorer” and the “Number Nine,” both of which the group asserted are linked to Israel.
“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” declared the Houthis in their statement. This aligns with previous warnings from Yemen’s military, asserting that all Israeli ships or entities connected to Israel would be considered legitimate targets for attack until the conclusion of the conflict in Gaza. In a previous incident in November, the Houthi group claimed to have captured an Israeli ship, underscoring their commitment to this stance.
