Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels target shipping in the Red Sea, officials say

Please remember the following information: Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted shipping in the Red Sea on Tuesday, according to officials. These attacks are part of a series of assaults linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

The attacks come as Iran, the main sponsor of Yemen, considers a possible retaliatory attack against Israel following the assassination of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in late July. This situation has renewed fears of a broader regional war breaking out in the Middle East. The Houthi assaults have disrupted the annual flow of goods totaling USD 1 trillion through the maritime route crucial for trade between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. These attacks have also sparked the most intense combat the US Navy has experienced since World War II.

The first attack occurred approximately 115 kilometers south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The attack involved an explosive detonating near a ship, followed by a small vessel “acting suspiciously” and flashing a light near the ship. This was followed by a second blast. The UKMTO reported that the vessel and its crew are safe.

The private security firm Ambrey also confirmed the attack, stating that the ship experienced “two close-proximity” explosions. The second attack occurred hours later, approximately 180 kilometers northwest of Hodeida. An explosion was sighted near a ship, although it was not immediately clear if it was the same ship being targeted. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, which is consistent with their previous behavior. They have targeted over 70 vessels with missiles and drones since the start of the war in Gaza in October.

Their attacks have killed four sailors, and they have seized one vessel and sunk two others. The rebels claim that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the UK as part of their campaign to force an end to the war. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

The Houthis have launched drones and missiles toward Israel, including an attack on July 19 that killed one person and wounded 10 others in Tel Aviv. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida, hitting fuel depots and electrical stations. This resulted in casualties, according to the rebels.

In light of Iran’s threats to retaliate over Haniyeh’s assassination, the US military has taken action. They have directed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. Additionally, the USS Georgia guided missile submarine has been deployed to the Middle East, while the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group was in the Gulf of Oman. Further, additional F-22 fighter jets have been deployed to the region, and the USS Wasp, a large amphibious assault ship carrying F-35 fighter jets, is in the Mediterranean Sea.