Escalation in Red Sea: Houthi Missile Strikes on Commercial Ships Prompt US Response

Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted three commercial ships in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles, resulting in a response from a U.S. warship that shot down three drones during the assault. The U.S. military attributed the attacks to the Iranian-backed Houthis and condemned the actions as a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. This marks an escalation in maritime incidents related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with multiple vessels facing a single Houthi assault. The U.S. has pledged to consider appropriate responses, explicitly pointing fingers at Iran, indicating a potential increase in tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The attacks began in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen, with the USS Carney detecting a ballistic missile fired at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The Carney shot down a drone, and subsequent missile strikes hit two other commercial ships. The U.S. military warned of the impact on the lives of international crews, stressing that the Houthis’ actions are fully enabled by Iran. As tensions persist in the region, these incidents underscore the complexity and challenges in maintaining maritime security amid geopolitical conflicts.