RIYADH- In a recent development in the southern Red Sea, three commercial vessels faced attacks in international waters. The U.S. military confirmed the incident, revealing that an American destroyer named Carney responded to distress calls and assisted after missile and drone launches from Houthi-controlled territory.
Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility, stating that it targeted two Israeli vessels, Unity Explorer and Number 9, with an armed drone and a naval missile. The attacks, as per the Houthi spokesperson, were in response to the demands of the Yemeni people and calls from Islamic nations to support the Palestinian cause.
The U.S. military reported that the Carney intercepted and shot down three drones during the operation. While one ship, Unity Explorer, suffered minor damage, the other, Number 9, reported more significant damage, with the vessel in distress and at risk of sinking. The military expressed concern over the attacks, viewing them as a threat to international commerce, and attributed them to Houthi actions enabled by Iran.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari clarified that the two ships had no connection to Israel. Nonetheless, one ship faced significant damage, and another was lightly damaged. The incident follows a series of attacks in the region since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7.
The Bahamas-flagged Unity Explorer and Panama-flagged Number 9 are owned and managed by Unity Explorer Ltd and Dao Shipping Ltd, and Number 9 Shipping Ltd and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, respectively.
The vessels were targeted while transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. British maritime security company Ambrey reported that both ships were hit by at least two drones in the Red Sea.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed a drone attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in the region.
The U.S. expressed intentions to coordinate responses with international allies and partners, highlighting the gravity of the situation in the volatile waters of the southern Red Sea.