The Houthis launched an unmanned surface drone against commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea early Thursday morning as the US Navy commander in the region said he sees no sign of the attacks abating.
The attack with the unmanned surface vessel (USV) marks the first time the Houthis have used this type of weapon since they began targeting merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea following the beginning of the war in Gaza. The USV traveled from Yemen into international shipping lanes “clearly with the intent to do harm” before detonating, said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command.
It wasn’t clear if a specific ship was targeted, and the USV exploded without causing damage to any ships or injuring any crews.
It is the 25th Houthi attack on ships in the Red Sea since November 18th, Cooper said. The attacks are almost certain to continue, Cooper said, prompting the US to create a multinational coalition to defend crucial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb straight.
The Yemen based Houthis, are believed to have been armed and trained by Iran, and there are fears that their attacks could escalate and fuel a wider regional conflict. And as the attacks continue, with major shipping and oil companies avoiding the area, there are real concerns about the impact on the global economy.
“There are no signs their irresponsible behavior is abating,” Cooper told reporters in a briefing Thursday morning.
Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the start of Operation Prosperity Guardian with the goal of deterring Houthi attacks and safeguarding shipping lanes.
Cooper said the coalition now consists of 22 countries and is expected to grow. Since the beginning of the operation, the operation has shot down 19 drones and missiles launched from Houthi territory, as…
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