3 commercial ships hit by missiles in Houthi attack in Red Sea, US warship downs 3 drones

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships Sunday in the Red Sea, whereas a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense throughout the hourslong assault, the U.S. navy mentioned. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed two of the assaults.

The strikes marked an escalation in a sequence of maritime assaults in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas battle, as a number of vessels discovered themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the primary time in the battle. The U.S. vowed to “consider all appropriate responses” in the wake of the attack, particularly calling out Iran, after tensions have been excessive for years now over Tehran’s quickly advancing nuclear program.

“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,” the U.S. navy’s Central Command mentioned in an announcement. “They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.”

It added: “We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”

The attack started round 9:15 a.m. native time (0615 GMT) in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, Central Command mentioned.

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on the Bahamas-flagged bulk provider Unity Explorer. The missile hit close to the ship, the U.S. mentioned. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its approach, though it is not clear if the destroyer was the goal, Central Command mentioned.

About 30 minutes later, the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile. While responding to its misery name, the Carney shot down one other incoming drone. Central Command mentioned the Unity Explorer sustained minor harm from the missile.

Two different commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, have been each struck by missiles. The Number 9 reported some harm however no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no vital harm, Central Command mentioned.

While crusing to help the Sophie II round 4:30 p.m. native time (1330 GMT), the Carney shot down one other drone heading in its course. The drones did no harm.

The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has shot down a number of rockets the Houthis have fired towards Israel throughout that nation’s battle in opposition to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It hasn’t been broken in any of the incidents and no accidents have been reported on board. The Defense Department initially described the assault as merely an attack on the Carney earlier than offering extra particulars.

Houthi navy spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed two of Sunday’s assaults, saying the primary vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone whereas in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which hyperlinks the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree didn’t point out any U.S. warship being concerned.

“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree mentioned. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”

Saree additionally recognized the primary vessel because the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British agency that features Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as certainly one of its officers. The Number 9 is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement.

The Sophie II’s proprietor, Kyowa Kisen of Imabari, Japan, advised The Associated Press that the ship’s crew have been protected and the vessel didn’t maintain critical harm. Managers for the 2 different ships couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.

Israeli media recognized Ungar as being the son of Israeli delivery billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.

Iran has but to instantly deal with the assaults. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian threatened “that if the current situation continues, the region will enter a new phase” over the Israel-Hamas battle.

“All events who’re after igniting a battle are warned, earlier than it’s too late cease the killing of ladies and kids, of which a brand new spherical has began,” Amirabdollahian mentioned.

Iran’s prime diplomat described his feedback as coming after conversations with “resistance forces” in the area — an outline Tehran makes use of for the Shiite militias it backs, together with teams in Iraq, the Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, in addition to the Sunni fighters of Hamas. All have threatened or attacked Israel, Iran’s regional archrival, throughout the battle.

The Houthis have launched a sequence of assaults on vessels in the Red Sea, in addition to launching drones and missiles focusing on Israel. Analysts recommend the Houthis hope to shore up waning widespread assist after years of civil battle in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

The U.S. has stopped in need of saying its Navy ships have been focused, however has mentioned Houthi drones have headed towards the ships and have been shot down in self-defense. Washington thus far has declined to instantly reply to the assaults, as has Israel, whose navy continues to attempt to describe the ships as not having hyperlinks to their nation.

Global delivery had more and more been focused because the Israel-Hamas battle threatens to change into a wider regional battle — at the same time as a truce briefly halted combating and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a floor offensive there had raised the chance of extra seaborne assaults.

In November, the Houthis seized a automobile transport ship additionally linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels nonetheless maintain the vessel close to the port metropolis of Hodeida. Missiles additionally landed close to one other U.S. warship final week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire not too long ago got here below attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

The Houthis had in a roundabout way focused the Americans for a while, additional elevating the stakes in the rising maritime battle. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar websites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships on the time.

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Associated Press writers Tara Copp in Dallas, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Dana Beltaji contributed to this report.