The current maritime war has intensified as Houthis attack a US ship once more, raising alarming concerns of a worrying escalation of tensions in the Red Sea.
The incident, which the Yemeni group claimed on Friday, comes after the US recently carried out retaliatory strikes against Houthi positions in retaliation for their hostile behavior toward warships in the area.
The Houthis, purportedly supported by Iran, claimed credit for a targeted killing in the Gulf of Aden of a US-owned ship known as the Chem Ranger.
The Yemeni organization claims that their naval forces used multiple naval missiles to successfully conduct the operation, leading to what they claim were direct hits on the commercial ship.
The US military refuted these claims, claiming that the Houthi rockets had not reached their target.
The Greek-operated tanker flying the Marshall Island flag was struck by two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis, according to the US Central Command, which is in charge of the Middle East. Luckily, no one was hurt on board, and the ship escaped unscathed when the missiles splashed down in the adjacent ocean.
Since the crisis in Gaza began on October 7, the Houthis have launched many attacks on shipping in the waters surrounding Yemen. This most recent attack is part of that string. Citing “the oppression of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip” as justification, the rebels said that their acts were in retaliation for what they saw as British and American aggression against Yemen.
Houthi attacks continue in spite of recent counterstrikes by the US.Declaring, “Are they going to continue?,” President Joe Biden recognized the persistent threat. Indeed.” According to US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, the strikes were directed at anti-ship missiles in the southern Red Sea that were ready for action right away. The last week’s airstrikes are said to have interfered with and weakened Houthi capabilities.
Major maritime companies are diverting their vessels out of the area as security worries grow as the situation worsens.
