Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information at 7:45 p.m. EST.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Merchant ships were attacked by drones and missiles in the Red Sea on Sunday and the Navy destroyer Carney shot down several aerial drones during an hours-long attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, officials said.
The attacks may represent a significant escalation in a series of sea attacks in the Middle East linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple ships found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi attack for the first time in that conflict.
“We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, although launched by the Houthis in Yemen, were entirely enabled by Iran.” US Central Command said in a statement late Sunday afternoon US time. “The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners.”
In total, there were four attacks against three different merchant vessels operating in the international waters of the southern Red Sea.
In each case, Carney responded to distress calls from the ship and provided assistance by shooting down several aerial drones flying in his direction en route.
It began around 9:15 a.m. local time when Carney spotted an anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas at the Bahamian-flagged merchant vessel M/V Unity Explorer, “in the vicinity” of Unity Explorer, CENTCOM landed said.
Then, around midday, Carney attacked and shot down a drone launched from Yemen that was headed toward the warship, although CENTCOM said the drone’s specific target was unclear.
“There was no damage to the U.S. ship or personal injury,” the command said.
At 12:35 p.m., Unity Explorer reported that it had been hit by a missile, and Carney rushed toward the ship and began assisting with the damage assessment, which revealed “minor damage from the missile attack.”
At this point, Carney spotted another incoming aerial drone and destroyed it as well.
About three hours later, around 3:30 p.m., the Panamanian-flagged ship M/V Number 9 was hit by another missile fired from Houthi-held areas in Yemen, CENTCOM said, but the attack on the bulk carrier resulted in no damage or loss.
At 4:30 p.m., the Romanian-flagged M/V Sophie II sent a distress call that it had been hit by a missile. Carney responded and found only minor damage.
En route to the Sophie II, Carney shot down an aerial drone heading toward the warship, its third interception that day.
Carney has shot down several aerial drones over the Red Sea in the last six weeks.
On Oct. 19, its crew intercepted a volley of missiles and aerial drones headed toward Israel, according to the Pentagon.
The Red Sea is a vital artery of the global economy and CENTCOM said the attacks “pose a direct threat to international trade and maritime security.”
“They endangered the lives of international crews from multiple countries around the world,” the command said.
Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed the first ship was hit by a missile and the second by a drone in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Saree did not mention that a US warship was involved in the attack.
“Yemeni forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from entering the Red Sea (and the Gulf of Aden) until Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip ceases,” Saree said. “The Yemeni Armed Forces reiterate their warning to all Israeli vessels or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate the statements of this statement.”
Global shipping has come under increasing scrutiny as the war between Israel and Hamas threatens to become a larger regional conflict – even as a ceasefire has halted fighting and Hamas is exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the ceasefire and the resumption of punishing Israeli air strikes and its ground offensive there had increased the risk of a resumption of naval attacks.
At the beginning of November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship that was also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels are still holding the ship near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it aided an Israeli-linked ship that was briefly hijacked by gunmen.
However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further increasing the risk of the worsening maritime conflict. In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory in retaliation for missiles fired at US Navy ships at the time, including the USS Mason.
Associated Press writers Tara Copp in Dallas, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Dana Beltaji contributed.
Geoff is editor of Navy Times, but he still loves writing stories. He reported extensively on Iraq and Afghanistan and was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any tips at [email protected].