Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Houthis in Yemen, said they would target US warships in response to “any tension in the Red Sea”.
Abdulmelik al-Houthi stated in his televised speech that “they will not stand idly by in the face of any tendency by America to escalate tensions or target Yemen.”
Houthi threatened that “in case of any tension in the Red Sea, they will target American warships and shipping traffic with rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)” and accused the “US of trying to militarize the Red Sea in order to protect Israeli ships.”
Noting that “the countries bordering the Red Sea will be affected by the American intervention,” Houthi called for “action to be taken to prevent this escalation.”
The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on December 6 that they were negotiating to establish an international “Maritime Task Force” against the attacks of the Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial ships in the Red Sea.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Monday, December 18, the creation of a multinational mission called Operation Welfare Guardian to counter the Houthis’ attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The mission includes forces from a total of 10 countries, including the United States, England, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain and Bahrain.
Attacks in the Red Sea
Abdulmelik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis in Yemen, threatened in his television speech on November 14 that they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea.
Houthis’ military spokesman Yahya Seri also announced in his statement on his X social media account on November 19 that they would target any Israeli-flagged ship in response to Israel’s attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Then, the Houthis launched a UAV and missile attack on two Israeli ships named “Unity Explorer” and “Number Nine” in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Israeli shipping company ZIM also stated in a statement on November 29 that its ships would not use the Suez Canal in Egypt, citing the security situation in the Oman Sea and the Red Sea.
CENTCOM announced on the X social media platform on December 4 that 4 attacks were carried out on 3 commercial ships in the international territorial waters in the south of the Red Sea.
It was stated in the statement that the US Navy destroyer “USS Carney” in the south of the Red Sea responded to the call for help from commercial ships, and that the destroyer shot down 3 UAVs that were advancing towards it while helping the ships.
Following the recent actions of the Houthis, many shipping companies decided to stop their voyages in the Red Sea.
In the statement made yesterday by Egypt’s Suez Canal Administration, it was reported that the route of 55 ships has been directed to the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa instead of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait since November 19.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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