Yesterday, a United States warship on patrol in the Gulf of Aden intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship missile fired by the Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran. This incident, involving the U.S. destroyer USS Carney, signals an intensification of conflict in the Middle East. In a related development, reports indicate that on Friday, Houthi rebels attacked and set fire to the Marlin Luanda, a commercial vessel. This act of aggression, one of the most severe in recent weeks, targeted a ship owned by the Singapore-based Trafigura trading firm.
According to the United States military Central Command, the U.S. forces shot down another projectile aimed at the Red Sea. The Houthi rebel group has launched missiles and drones at ships in the Red Sea since 19th November in retaliation to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Yahya Saree, the Houthi spokesperson, released a televised statement claiming responsibility for the attack. According to Saree, Houthi will continue to attack ships in the Red Sea until Israel ceases attacking Palestinians in Gaza. Houthi attacks have primarily been concentrated in the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. The narrow strait connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, where approximately 50 ships sail through every day. Houthi are trying to cripple the worldwide economy because the strait is a key in the global maritime economy.
Since the attacks, some of the World’s largest shipping companies have since halted their operations. Instead, these companies are opting to use the longer route around Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Although it is a safer route, the trade between Europe and Asia is slowing down. The United States and the United Kingdom have launched numerous air raids targeting launching sites and missile depots in Yemen.
On Saturday, the Houthi satellite news channel, Al Masirah, reported that the U.S. and UK allegedly launched two air strikes targeting the Port of Ras Issa, Yemen’s main oil export terminal. The latest and continuing attacks in the Red Sea have escalated fears of inflation and supply chain disruption globally.
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