jfid – A series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a US warship and three commercial ships in the Red Sea on Sunday, sparking fears of a new maritime front in the region.
The US military said it intercepted and destroyed several drones and missiles fired by the Iran-backed group, which claimed responsibility for two of the attacks.
The US Central Command said in a statement that the USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, responded to distress calls from the commercial ships and provided assistance.
The warship also shot down three drones that were approaching it in a “hostile manner”.
The statement added that the commercial ships were linked to 14 separate countries and that no injuries or casualties were reported.
The Houthi spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said on the rebel-run Al-Masirah TV that the attacks were part of a “large-scale operation” in support of the Palestinian people and in response to the “Israeli aggression” in Gaza.
He said the rebels launched ballistic and winged missiles and a large number of drones at various targets in Israel, referring to the whole country as “occupied territories”.
The attacks came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the Israel-Hamas war that erupted in October and killed more than 2,000 people, mostly Palestinians.
The US and its allies have accused Iran of providing weapons and support to the Houthis, who have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since 2015. Iran has denied the allegations and condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The Red Sea is a vital waterway for global trade and energy, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. It is also a strategic chokepoint for shipping oil from the Persian Gulf.
The Houthi attacks pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the region, as well as the freedom of navigation and international commerce.
The US and other countries have deployed naval forces to the area to protect their interests and deter further attacks.
