Red Sea: US launches new attacks on Houthi weapons systems
February 18, 2024
The United States has conducted five self-defense strikes in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday.
CENTCOM said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the strikes targeted “three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and one unmanned surface vessel (USV).”
It is the first case in which the US military has reported the Houthis using an underwater drone.
The strikes took place between 3pm and 8pm local time (12pm and 5pm GMT) on Saturday.
CENTCOM said its forces determined that the missiles and vessels “posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region” and that its action would help “protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and protected.”
Red Sea: a critical trade chokepoint
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea area have been a sign of the spread of conflict in the Middle East since war broke out between Israel and Hamas following the Palestinian militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7.
The Houthis, who control the most populated parts of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel attacks Gaza.
The latest occurred on Saturday against an oil tanker that the Houthis said was British but was later confirmed to be Danish.
The tanker “suffered minor damage” in the missile attack northwest of Yemen’s Mokha port, security firm Ambrey said.
Shipping costs for rocket from Europe
But the attacks have caused alarm among global shipping companies, whose ships carrying goods from Asia to Europe rely on the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.
Due to rising insurance costs, major shipping lines have largely abandoned the Red Sea – a critical trade route that carries around 12% of global maritime trade – for much longer routes around Africa, leading to a dramatic increase of fuel costs.
The US and Britain have sent warships to the Middle East to protect sea lanes and the US has renamed the Houthis a specially designated global terrorist group and introduced new sanctions against the rebels.
EU will launch naval mission to the Middle East
Source: DW
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.