The US military reported on Sunday that three commercial vessels were attacked in international waters within the southern Red Sea, as the Houthi group in Yemen claimed to have attacked two Israeli warships there with drones and missiles.
US Central Command says that after missile and drone strikes from Houthi-controlled areas, the US destroyer Carney reacted to distress calls and offered support.
The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed that its navy had used a naval missile and an armed drone to target two Israeli vessels, Number 9 and Unity Explorer. A military spokesman for the organization stated, without providing any details, that the two vessels were targeted because they disregarded warnings.
According to the spokesperson, the attacks were carried out in response to appeals from Islamic countries to support the Palestinian people as well as demands made by the Yemeni people.
According to the US military, while assisting the commercial vessels, the Carney fired down three drones. Whether the battleship was a target or not was unclear.
It said there was a threat to international trade due to the attacks.
The statement added that they believe that Iran is fully enabling these attacks, even though they are being carried out by the Houthis in Yemen, and the US will take into account all suitable responses in complete cooperation with its international partners and allies.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, stated that there was no relationship between Israel and the two ships, one of which had sustained major damage, was in crisis, and appeared to be at risk of sinking, while the other had just minor damage.
The event that has been reported comes after a slew of assaults in the Middle Eastern seas after Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas declared war on each other on October 7.
In November, Iran's allies, the Houthis, took control of a cargo ship that was connected to Israel. Controlling the majority of Yemen's coast along the Red Sea, the group has threatened to attack more Israeli vessels.
Multiple engagements
LSEG data revealed that the Bahamas-flagged bulk ship Unity Explorer belongs to Unity Explorer Ltd. and is administered by London-based Dao Shipping Ltd. The ship was supposed to dock in Singapore on December 15.
Number 9 is a Panama-flagged container vessel owned by Number 9 Shipping Ltd. and administered by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. Number 9 was sailing toward the port of Suez. BSM said Number 9 is still sailing and that there have been no reports of pollution or injuries since the incident.
The Unity Explorer sustained minimal damage, and the Number 9 also suffered damage, according to the US Central Command.
A container ship and a bulk carrier were struck by a minimum of two drones while cruising in the Red Sea, based on prior reports.
According to the UKMTO, the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations agency, there have been reports of a drone strike in the Bab al-Mandab Strait of the Red Sea.