Yemen’s Houthi rebels show no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East said Saturday, even as more nations join the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic begins to pick up.
Quick Read
- Houthis Continue Attacks in Red Sea: The Houthi rebels in Yemen show no signs of stopping their assaults on commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to U.S. naval forces’ top commander in the Middle East, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper.
- Operation Prosperity Guardian’s Impact: Since the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian over 10 days ago, 1,200 merchant ships have safely traversed the Red Sea region without any attacks. Denmark has joined the mission, which was initiated by the U.S. to protect vessels in this crucial trade route.
- Strategic Importance of Bab el-Mandeb Strait: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, is a vital maritime link for global trade between Asia and Europe.
- Response to Houthi Attacks: Due to the severity of Houthi attacks, some shipping companies temporarily halted entering the strait, with others rerouting around Africa. This added time and costs to their journeys.
- International Naval Presence: The U.S., France, and the UK have deployed warships to patrol the southern Red Sea and western Gulf of Aden. These ships have intercepted several drones and missiles launched by the Houthis.
- Coalition Efforts and Communication with Ships: The coalition communicates directly with commercial vessels to provide guidance on avoiding attacks. More than 20 nations are participating in the operation, although not all have publicly acknowledged their involvement.
- Houthis’ Increased Missile Usage: Since the operation’s start, the Houthis have intensified their use of anti-ship ballistic missiles.
- Background of Houthi Rebellion: The Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, leading to a protracted conflict with a Saudi-led coalition. The group has targeted ships sporadically, with an increase in attacks coinciding with the Israel-Hamas war.
- Houthi Threats to Shipping: The Houthis have threatened to attack vessels associated with Israel, escalating to targeting various international ships.
- Commercial Shipping Resuming: Shipping company Maersk, after initially rerouting its ships, resumed sending vessels through the strait following the operation’s implementation. Another unnamed company also resumed using the route.
- Commerce Flowing Again: Adm. Cooper affirmed that commerce in the region is flowing again, indicating the operation’s effectiveness in ensuring maritime security.
The Associated Press has the story:
Houthis show no sign of ending ‘reckless’ Red Sea attacks, commander says
Newslooks- CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) —
Yemen’s Houthi rebels show no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East said Saturday, even as more nations join the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic begins to pick up.
Since Operation Prosperity Guardian was announced just over 10 days ago, 1,200 merchant ships have traveled through the Red Sea region, and none has been hit by drone or missile strikes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview. He said additional countries are expected to sign on. Denmark was the latest, announcing Friday it plans to send a frigate to the mission that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced during a visit to Bahrain, where the Navy’s 5th Fleet is based, saying that “this is an international challenge that demands collective action.”
The narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and then the Suez Canal. The crucial trade route links markets in Asia and Europe. The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have damaged vessels, led multiple shipping companies to order their vessels to hold in place and not enter the strait until the security situation improved. Some major shippers were sending their ships around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and costs to the journeys.
Currently there are five warships from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom patrolling the waters of the southern Red Sea and the western Gulf of Aden, said Cooper, who heads the 5th Fleet. Since the operation started, the ships have shot down a total of 17 drones and four anti-ship ballistic missiles, he said.
Just two days ago, the USS Mason, a Navy destroyer, down a drone and anti-ship ballistic missile that were fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis, according to U.S. Central Command. The U.S. said the 22nd attack on international shipping by the Houthis since Oct. 19 caused no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or any reported injuries.
“I expect in the coming weeks we’re going to get additional countries,” Cooper said, noting Denmark’s recent announcement.
The U.S. has said that more than 20 nations are participating, but a number of those nations have not acknowledged it publicly.
Cooper said the coalition is in direct communication with commercial ships to provide guidance on “maneuvering and the best practices to avoid being attacked,” and working closely with the shipping industry to coordinate security.
An international task force had been set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the region. But Cooper said Operation Prosperity Guardian has more ships and a persistent presence to assist vessels.
Since the operation started, the Houthis have stepped up their use of anti-ship ballistic missiles, Cooper said. “We are cleareyed that the Houthi reckless attacks will likely continue,” he said.
The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, launching a grinding war against a Saudi-led coalition that sought to restore the government. The militants have sporadically targeted ships in the region, but the attacks increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The Houthi threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel. That has escalated to apparently any vessel, with container ships and oil tankers flagged to countries such as Norway and Liberia being attacked or drawing missile fire.
The shipping company Maersk had announced earlier that it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa instead. Maersk announced Dec. 25 that it was going to resume sending ships through the strait, citing the operation. Cooper said another shipping company had also resumed using the route.
“Commerce is definitely flowing,” Cooper said.
