This is a second war that takes place parallel to the conflict in the Middle East. 2,000 km south of Israel, in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen, Israeli ships and those of their allies are being attacked by rebels in solidarity with the Palestinians. And the attacks are increasing.
Published on May 12, 2023 12:48 p.m
Reading time: 2 minutes
A screenshot of footage released by Yemeni media center Houthi Ansarullah on November 19, 2023, showing members of the rebel group hijacking an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Red Sea. (ANSARULLAH MEDIA CENTER/AFP)
The US denounced the attacks as “provocative and dangerous,” “a direct threat to international trade and maritime security.” On Sunday, three cargo ships were attacked by missiles and drones as they passed in international waters off Yemen’s coast. The attack lasted several hours. It was an American destroyer that came to their aid by shooting down three drones over the sea. In the end, the boats suffered only minor material damage and there were no casualties.
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Yemen’s Houthis released footage of their attack on Israeli and US warships in the Red Sea.| Peshawar Islamabad Bushra Bibi
US State Department Palestine pic.twitter.com/1nNU6CqOua— Babar Khan Niazi 🇵🇰 (@Akhanmevric) December 5, 2023
Earlier in the day, a British cargo ship was hit by rocket fire about thirty kilometers off the coast of Mocha, according to maritime security company Ambrey. The crew protected themselves by retreating to a safe area of the boat. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) advises ships in the region to “exercise caution”.
“Until the aggression against Gaza stops”
This is the first time that multiple ships have been simultaneously targeted in a single attack by the Houthi rebels, who also issued a press release following their attack. “We will continue to target Israeli ships,” they say, “until Israeli aggression against our brothers in Gaza stops.” In November they also seized the Galaxy Leader, which was carrying cars owned by a British company and owned by an Israeli businessman .
If the Houthi rebels in Yemen support the Palestinians in Gaza, it is because this armed Shiite group, which has been fighting loyalist forces in Yemen for more than a decade, is also part of the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel – like the Palestinian Hamas or the Lebanese Hezbollah. Like them, they are financed by Iran, which has helped them expand and professionalize over the years.
The United States is ready to retaliate
Today, the 30,000 Houthi fighters have the most modern equipment, drones, armored vehicles, helicopters and even long-range missiles. A few weeks ago they fired a volley toward Eilat, Israel, more than 2,000 kilometers away. The message is clear: it is about strengthening their influence and establishing themselves as a strong player in Yemen (where they already control the capital Sanaa) and the region, even if they know that their attacks will not change the balance of power. It also serves as a deterrent by proving that Iran and its allies have the means to reach southern Israel and control the Red Sea, a strategic route through which 40% of the world’s maritime trade passes.
Is there a risk of the conflict expanding? It all depends on how far the Houthis want to go. So far they have not caused any human casualties or specifically attacked American ships in the Red Sea.
Today there were four attacks against three different merchant vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea. These three ships are affiliated with 14 different nations. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS CARNEY responded to distress calls from the…
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 3, 2023
This represents the line that cannot be crossed and would lead to a military response, an uncontrollable spiral – the United States has already stated that it is considering and, as we know, ready “all appropriate responses” to the attacks are to attack Iran on its soil.