The US disclosed yesterday that it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea in response to a Houthi attack on a merchant vessel.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have significantly stepped up their involvement in the current conflict in the Gaza Strip by targeting vessels in the southern Red Sea. The group has warned that it will attack all Israel-bound ships. It said the attacks are to support Palestinians as they face Israel’s “aggression and siege” in Gaza.
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced the creation of a multinational mission — Operation Prosperity Guardian — to counter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.