By JON GAMBRELL (Associated Press)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Three business ships within the Red Sea have been struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday and a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense in the course of the hourslong assault, the U.S. army stated. Responsibility for the assault was claimed by the Houthi rebels, who’re backed by Iran.
The assaults marked an escalation in a sequence of maritime assaults within the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, as a number of vessels discovered themselves within the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the primary time within the battle.
In an announcement, U.S. Central Command stated the assaults “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.” It stated the three business ships and their crews are related to 14 nations.
According to Central Command, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on the Bahamas-flagged bulk provider Unity Explorer. The missile hit close to the ship. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its means, though it’s not clear if the destroyer was the goal. The drone was additionally launched from Yemen.
About half-hour later, the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile, and whereas responding to the misery name the Carney shot down one other incoming drone. Central Command stated the Unity Explorer reported minor harm from the missile.
Two different business ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, have been each struck by missiles. The Number 9 reported some harm however no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no vital harm.
While crusing to help the Sophie II, the Carney shot down one other drone heading in its course. The drones did no harm.
“We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran,” Central Command stated, including that the U.S. will take into account “all appropriate responses.”
The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has already shot down a number of rockets the Houthis have fired towards Israel thus far within the conflict. It hasn’t been broken in any of the incidents and no accidents have been reported on board.
Houthi army spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed Sunday’s assaults, saying the primary vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone whereas within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which hyperlinks the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree didn’t point out any U.S. warship being concerned within the assault.
“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree stated. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”
Saree additionally recognized the primary vessel because the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British agency that features Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one among its officers. The Number 9 is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the 2 vessels couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
Israeli media recognized Ungar as being the son of Israeli transport billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.
The Houthis have launched a sequence of assaults on vessels within the Red Sea, in addition to launching drones and missiles focusing on Israel. The U.S. has stopped wanting saying its Navy ships have been focused, however has stated Houthi drones have headed towards the ships and have been shot down in self protection.
Global transport had more and more been focused because the Israel-Hamas conflict threatens to change into a wider regional battle — whilst a truce briefly halted preventing and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a floor offensive there had raised the chance of the seaborne assaults resuming.
In November, the Houthis seized a car transport ship additionally linked to Israel within the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels nonetheless maintain the vessel close to the port metropolis of Hodeida. Missiles additionally landed close to one other U.S. warship final week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen.
However, the Houthis had circuitously focused the Americans for a while, additional elevating the stakes within the rising maritime battle. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar websites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships on the time.
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Associated Press writers Tara Copp in Dallas, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Dana Beltaji contributed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”