Houthis hit US warship

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced that they hit a US warship in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and forced 2 commercial ships to return.

Houthis’ Military Spokesperson Yahya Seri claimed in his statement that they engaged in clashes with US warships in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, both in support of Gaza and in response to the US and UK attacks on Yemen.

Stating that the clashes with US warships protecting commercial ships in the region lasted more than 2 hours, Seri said, “We hit one of the US warships and forced 2 commercial ships to return.” he said.

Pointing out that they carried out the attacks with ballistic missiles, Seri claimed that some of the missiles reached their targets despite the US warships’ attempts to resist.

Seri stated that they would continue their attacks in the Red Sea.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Houthis launched 3 anti-ship ballistic missiles towards a US-flagged commercial cargo ship sailing in the Gulf of Aden around 14:00 local time.

CENTCOM stated that two of the missiles were neutralized by the USS Gravely military ship and the other fell into the sea.

SITUATION IN THE RED SEA

The Houthis in Yemen, supported by Iran, began seizing commercial ships off the coast of Yemen, which they said were affiliated with Israeli companies, on October 31, 2023, as a reaction to Israel’s attacks in Gaza, and began attacking some of them with drones and missiles.

US forces announced that they shot down missiles and kamikaze drones fired from Yemen many times during this period.

Following the actions of the Houthis, many shipping companies decided to stop their voyages in the Red Sea.

The USA announced that a multinational “maritime task force” called “Operation Welfare Guardian” was formed against the Houthi forces on December 18, 2023, with the participation of a group of countries, on the grounds that global maritime trade security was endangered.

Three speedboats belonging to the Houthis, who were trying to seize the ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea on December 31, 2023, were taken under fire by US helicopters.

The Houthis announced that on January 10, a US ship was targeted with missiles and kamikaze drones in the Red Sea on the grounds that it supported Israel.

The United Nations Security Council adopted the resolution submitted by the USA and Japan on January 11, demanding an immediate end to the Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea.

Approximately 12 percent of global trade is carried out through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and offers the shortest route between Europe and Asia.