Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events in the Middle East, an American destroyer and multiple commercial ships were attacked in the Red Sea on Sunday. The Pentagon has issued a statement confirming the distressing news, hinting at a significant uptick in maritime strikes connected to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The USS Carney, a formidable destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class, was among the targeted vessels. The Pentagon has been tight-lipped about the precise details of the attacks, but the British military previously mentioned a suspected drone strike and explosions in the Red Sea.
While the Pentagon refrained from pinpointing the origin of the assault, speculation is rife that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are behind these brazen acts of aggression. These rebels have a history of launching assaults on ships in the Red Sea and have also directed drones and missiles towards Israel during its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
BREAKING: Pentagon Reports US Warship & Multiple Commercial Ships Under Attack in Red Seahttps://t.co/lnkoqMLE5U
— Sheri™ (@FFT1776) December 3, 2023
An anonymous US official has divulged that the strike was initiated at 10 a.m. in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and may have persisted for up to five hours. The Houthis have not issued an immediate response, but a Houthi military official has promised an “important” declaration in the near future.
The recent targeting of ships in the Red Sea poses a grave threat to global commerce, escalating tensions amid the Israel-Hamas crisis and fueling the possibility of a wider regional conflict. This aggressive posture has already been displayed by the Houthis, who had previously captured a vehicle transport ship in the same region related to Israel, and are still detaining it near the strategic port city of Hodeida.
Furthermore, there have been alarming incidents involving missiles falling near a US warship, following its intervention to assist an Israeli-linked vessel that had been briefly hijacked by assailants. This sequence of events underscores the escalating risks faced by American military assets in the region.
The Houthis’ intensified attacks on American interests present a grave escalation, given their track record of hostile actions. In 2016, the USS Mason had to unleash Tomahawk cruise missiles, obliterating three coastal radar installations in Houthi-controlled territory, in retaliation for attacks on American warships.
The situation continues to unfold, but these belligerent actions demand a resolute response to safeguard American interests and security in the region. For more insight and analysis on this critical issue, be sure to tune in to Kyle Becker’s “Relentless Podcast.”
