Houthis drone attack targets Red Sea shipping despite US warning

Houthis drone attack: The Iranian-backed Houthis launched an unmanned surface drone in the Red Sea, targeting commercial shipping lanes. This marks the first instance of the Houthis using such a weapon since the onset of their attacks on merchant vessels in the wake of the Gaza war. 

The US Navy commander in the region said that he saw no sign of the attacks abating.

The Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) travelled from Yemen into international shipping lanes "clearly with the intent to do harm" before detonating, said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command.

The attack by Unmanned Surface Vessel came a day after a group of countries led by the United States have warned Yemen's Houthi rebels of "consequences" unless they stop their attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels.

It has been noted that it is the 25th Houthi attack on ships in the Red Sea since November 18.

The attacks are almost certain to continue, prompting the US to create a multinational coalition to defend crucial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb Straight, he added.

Earlier last month, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the start of Operation Prosperity Guardian with the goal of deterring Houthi attacks and safeguarding shipping lanes.

Since the beginning of the operation, it has shot down 19 drones and missiles launched from Houthi territory, as well as sinking three Houthi small boats, Cooper noted.

It is pertinent to mention that the Houthis began launching the attacks soon after the start of the Gaza war, claiming they were targeting ships with ties to Israel as they stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Moreover, the US assesses that 55 nations have direct connections to the ships that have been attacked, whether through the flagging state of the ship, the nationality of the crew, the ship's origin and destination, or the vessels' ownership, as per the reports. 

Meanwhile, in response to the threat to shipping, the US Navy is in frequent communication with commercial vessels as they transit the Red Sea. 

- With inputs from agencies

-

Join Whatsapp Channel