US Navy fights off barrage of 14 drones in Red Sea fired from Yemen as 'global trade problem' looms
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Coast of the Red Sea Gulf of Eilat in Israel
- Tensions are rising in the Red Sea as the Houthi rebels of Yemen ramp up attacks in protest of Israel.
- US National Security Adviser said the Houthis are being "handed the gun by Iran."
- The Red Sea tensions could slow down global trade.
In response to heightened threats in the Red Sea, the US and UK navies successfully intercepted 15 attack drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Al Jazeera reports.
The Houthi rebel movement signaled their intent to press on with attacks in a bid to pressure Israel into a cease-fire with Gaza. The rising tensions add to concerns about Israel's war on Hamas expanding into a regional conflict.
The US has urged Israel not to escalate maritime warfare with the Houthis.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its guided-missile destroyer USS Carney neutralized 14 suspected attack drones on Saturday, calling the incident a series of "one-way attack drones."
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW
The UK's Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Diamond, joined the effort by deploying a Sea Viper missile, destroying a drone specifically targeting merchant shipping.
Last week, Business Insider's Jake Epstein reported that the the maritime service bragged in a video that the USS Carney was 22-0 against the Houthi rebels in contrast to Saturday's Army-Navy football game which saw the Black Knights defeat the Midshipmen 17-11.
Following Saturday's successful defense of the Houthi barrage, it now stands at 36-0 — for those keeping scores.
Meanwhile, the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone swarm attack on the Israeli city of Eilat, referring to the Red Sea resort city as "southern occupied Palestine."
The brewing tensions in the Red Sea threaten global trade, as approximately 12% of the world's trade business passes through the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Recent attacks on container ships and oil tankers flagged to countries like Norway and Liberia have raised concerns about the safety of maritime traffic navigating the waters of the major global trade artery.
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that Houthi attacks on commercial ships represent a "direct threat to international commerce and maritime security." Several major shipping companies have responded by pausing their vessels' journeys through the Red Sea, impacting the timely delivery of goods worldwide.
John Stawpert of the International Chamber of Shipping said in a statement, that rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope could add significant delays of six to 14 days, turning the situation into a "global trade problem."
Concerns about the disruption of trade routes are mounting, and the economic impact is uncertain. The trade disruptions could slow shipments of oil, grain, and consumer goods.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged Iran's influence in providing support to the Houthis, telling journalists: "While the Houthis are pulling the trigger, so to speak, they're being handed the gun by Iran".
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