On Sunday, the US military made public its interception of two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, specifically targeting a container ship. Subsequently, the same vessel encountered a second threat as four boats attempted an attack.
In response, US forces took action, resulting in the fatalities of several armed crew members. The USS GRAVELY and USS LABOON promptly responded to the ship's distress call, ensuring its seaworthiness and confirming no injuries.
This incident marked the 23rd instance of the Houthis engaging in unlawful attacks on international shipping since November 19, according to statements from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The Houthi rebels, with backing from Iran, have consistently claimed responsibility for attacks on ships in the Red Sea, often asserting connections to Israel or vessels en route to Israeli ports.
Despite ongoing international efforts to safeguard maritime traffic, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the top commander of US naval forces in the Middle East, emphasized that the Houthi rebels exhibit no signs of discontinuing their "reckless" assaults on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Cooper highlighted the success of Operation Prosperity Guardian, initiated by the Pentagon over ten days ago to counter these attacks. During this period, over 1,200 merchant ships traversed the Red Sea region without encountering any drone or missile strikes, signifying a positive outcome for the maritime mission amid heightened trade traffic.
