An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and multiple commercial vessels faced drone attacks on Sunday, marking a potential escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Pentagon confirmed the incidents and is actively providing information as it becomes available. The British military reported a suspected drone attack in the Red Sea without further details.
While the Pentagon did not identify the source of the attack, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, engaged in maritime assaults, are suspected. The Houthis have targeted vessels in the Red Sea and launched drones and missiles at Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the attack commenced in Sanaa, Yemen, around 10 a.m., lasting up to five hours. The Houthis, yet to comment, hinted at an impending statement. Global shipping faces increased threats amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the Houthis seizing a vehicle transport ship in November.
Despite a truce, maritime tensions persist, with recent incidents involving U.S. warships and vessels linked to Israel. The Houthis, not having directly targeted Americans for some time, intensify the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. responded to Houthi missile attacks with Tomahawk cruise missiles, targeting coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory.
