Three commercial vessels came under attack in the Red Sea on Sunday in a series of incidents that have raised concerns about the safety of international shipping routes in the region. A U.S. warship is reported to have shot down multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that were headed toward the vessels, marking a significant increase in the level of confrontation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to a statement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks took place in international waters and targeted three vessels belonging to 14 different nations. The attacks have been linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which has already seen a number of maritime incidents in recent weeks.
The latest development marks a serious escalation in the conflict, with the U.S. now directly involved in responding to attacks on commercial vessels. USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was stationed in the southern Red Sea when it detected multiple Houthi drones headed towards the ships. In a statement, CENTCOM clarified that the ships were in fact attacked by Houthi drones launched from Yemen, an ally of Iran.
The first attack was directed at the Unity Explorer, a vessel operated by the United Kingdom. USS Carney quickly responded and shot down the first UAV, averting any damage or injuries. However, the Unity Explorer was later targeted by another UAV and sustained minor damage. No injuries to personnel have been reported.
BREAKING: An American warship and multiple commercial ships are under attack in the Red Sea according to the Pentagon.
The warship is reportedly the USS Carney.
“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide… pic.twitter.com/56vET2NENR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 3, 2023
Two other commercial vessels, named Number 9 and Sophie II, were also hit by missiles on Sunday, with USS Carney managing to shoot down another Houthi UAV heading towards Sophie II. While there were no casualties reported, CENTCOM stressed the serious nature of the attacks, which have put the lives of crew members from multiple countries in danger.
The U.S. has also accused Iran of enabling the Houthi attacks, stating that “The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners.” This could suggest a possible escalation in the conflict if the U.S. decides to directly confront Iran over their alleged support for the Houthi rebels.
Following the series of attacks, a White House official clarified that USS Carney was not a target of the attacks, but rather responded to the distress calls from the commercial vessels. Earlier, British officials had reported a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that they were targeting ships associated with Israel. However, they did not mention any involvement of a U.S. warship, highlighting the possibility of conflicting accounts of the incidents.
The increasing number of attacks on shipping in the region has raised concerns about the safety of international trade routes. In a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday, former CIA director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called for a more aggressive response to the attacks, stating that “they [those firing missiles] are going to die.”
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has already seen a number of similar incidents in the Red Sea, including the seizure of a vehicle transport ship that was linked to Israel. The latest attacks suggest that the situation could continue to escalate, posing a significant threat to commercial shipping in the region.
