Newsweek
"Biden Risks Another 'Fatal Mistake' in Red Sea"
Story by David Brennan
15 MARCH 2024
The U.S. and its allies are making a costly mistake in their response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the United Nations' former special envoy for Yemen has said, as the rebel group meets the Western bombing campaign with yet more strikes.
Jamal Benomar, who was the UN's representative in Yemen from 2011 to 2015 and was involved in talks to end the country's devastating civil war, told Newsweek that only a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip can stem near-daily maritime attacks.
"Historically, looking back at what's happened since 2011 with the U.S. leading the charge against the Houthis, they have consistently miscalculated," Benomar said.
President Joe Biden, he added, is now risking another tactical disaster.
"Opening this front against the Houthis in the Red Sea, I think, is another miscalculation."
"Their mindset is completely different and doesn't respond to this."
Newsweek has contacted the White House by email to request comment.
A Committed Campaign
The Iranian-aligned Houthis — officially known as Ansar Allah — launched their Red Sea campaign in protest of Israel's ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, an operation aimed at destroying Hamas in response to the militant group's October 7 surprise attack into southern Israel.
The Hamas assault killed some 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage.
Six months on, Israel has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians in the Strip — per figures reported by The Associated Press citing the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced the majority of its 2.3 million residents, and razed swaths of the territory.
Houthi leaders have said they will continue disrupting shipping in the Red Sea while Israeli "crimes in Gaza" continue.
The Yemeni group has so far been true to its word.
Dozens of commercial and military ships have come under fire in the six months since October 7, with at least one vessel sunk, one captured, and one abandoned by its crew.
The first fatalities among sailors were reported earlier this month when the True Confidence tanker was hit by a missile.
Initial U.S. and U.K. airstrikes on Houthi targets in January have been followed by more.
"We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in February.
But the Houthis are clearly committed to the campaign and have been increasing its tempo and scope.
"Their area of operations is more widespread, the weapons they use are more sophisticated, and new weapons are being used, and they've increased the number of attacks," Benomar said.
"I think the U.S. and U.K. are at a loss of what to do."
"Because their stated objective — which is to degrade the Houthis so that they will not be able to threaten any ship in the Red Sea — that didn't work."
"They couldn't achieve that objective."
"The Houthis are much more belligerent, much more aggressive, much more determined to continue."
A Tenacious Foe
Houthi resolve has been forged through decades of fire.
The minority Shiite Islamist movement fought six wars with the central Yemeni government led by then President Ali Abdullah Saleh before long-held tensions erupted into a civil conflict in 2011.
The Houthis emerged from the chaos largely victorious, at one point in alliance with Saleh, though he later changed sides and was killed trying to escape the group's control in 2017.
The Houthis have withstood a Saudi-led air campaign since 2015 that sought to drive them back.
Seeking an exit from an unwinnable war, Riyadh has now been negotiating a political settlement for more than two years.
The reigniting of fighting between Israel and Hamas, and the subsequent Houthi Red Sea campaign, have undermined the talks.
"In a nutshell, it started as a minority rights issue that got out of control," Benomar said of more than a decade of violence.
The Western approach has been wrong from the start, the former envoy added, noting American and British failure to engage with the rebels throughout their journey from an isolated mountain movement to the victors of Yemen's bloodletting.
Western support for Saudi Arabia's military intervention in the civil war in 2015, Benomar added, was the most significant error.
"The U.S. and U.K. encouraged them; that was a mistake," he explained.
"One thing that is very interesting to see in what's happening now in the Red Sea, is that both the United Arab Emirates the Saudis are keeping a low profile."
"I think they're keeping a low profile because they know that the Houthis have developed military capabilities and technological capabilities that they didn't have before, that can threaten their economies and their stability."
The standoff war with the West is proving a boon for Houthi credentials, Benomar said.
"What's happening now is making the Houthis more popular in Yemen, although they don't have a good human rights record at all," he explained.
"It is making the Houthis look like Hezbollah in early 2000s, looking more popular in the whole Arab world," Benomar added, referring to the pro-Iranian Lebanese militia movement that became a key part of Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" through its opposition to Israel's occupation of the country from 1985-2000.
Hezbollah has subsequently posed a potent threat across the shared border, where fighting has been constant since October 7.
"The Houthi calculation is that the confrontation with the U.S. will make them even more popular among the population," Benomar said.
"And as a result, they will be able to recruit more fighters so they can finish the civil war with a total victory over their political opponents, who are supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE."
"If they withstood eight years of aerial bombardment from the Saudis, they feel they can withstand the same level — or more — of bombardment from the U.S. and UK," he said.
"They are going to continue."
"Now that they've grown in terms of sophistication and strengths, I don't know what the ultimate objective is."
The West appears keen on finding solutions.
The Financial Times reported this week that U.S. officials conducted secret meetings with Iranian counterparts, in which they asked Tehran to rein in their Yemeni allies.
Benomar said the solution lays with Israel, and "ending the massacres in Gaza and ending the war in Gaza."
"What is needed is a permanent ceasefire."
"If that happens, the situation in the Red Sea will come to an end."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bi ... b9af&ei=15
THE MIDDLE EAST
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
AFP
"Huthis fire at ship off Yemen as they threaten wider campaign"
Story by AFP
16 MARCH 2024
A missile launched Friday by Yemen's Huthi rebels at a ship in the Red Sea caused no damage, after they threatened to expand their harassment campaign which has disrupted global trade.
The Iran-backed rebels have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes on shipping in the commercially vital seaway over the past four months.
They say they are targeting Israel-linked shipping as part of an "axis of resistance" of Iran allies and proxies, in protest at Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, the Royal Navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations and security firm Ambrey had reported that the ship was damaged after being hit west of the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeida in the early hours of Friday.
But a daylight inspection showed that the vessel had not been impacted by the missile and had not sustained damage, UKMTO and Ambrey said in a later update.
Ambrey said the "vessel was listed as Israel-affiliated but had changed ownership in February 2024", adding that it was headed from Singapore to the Suez Canal with armed guards onboard.
The same tanker was nearly hit by a missile southeast of Yemen's port of Aden the previous day, Ambrey said.
The Huthis claimed the attack in a statement, alleging that the ship is Israeli-owned.
They identified the vessel as Pacific 01.
They also claimed a separate drone attack on a US destroyer in the Red Sea, adding that the strike "achieved its goals".
There was no immediate confirmation from Washington and AFP could not independently verify the Huthi claims.
- Widened campaign -
The flurry of Huthi attacks, including a deadly assault on a bulk carrier last week and the sinking of a ship carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, have triggered reprisal strikes by US and British forces.
On Thursday, the US military said it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones after the Huthis fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Such exchanges have become a frequent occurrence in the area, sending shipping insurance costs soaring and prompting many firms to detour around the southern tip of Africa.
Late on Thursday, rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi said the Huthis would expand their attacks to ships taking the longer route around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
"We are moving, with the grace and help of God Almighty, to prevent them from crossing even through the Indian Ocean and from South Africa," he said in a speech broadcast by the rebels' Al-Masirah TV channel.
"We have begun implementing our related operations," he added.
Twelve "targeting operations" using 58 missiles were carried out against commercial and military ships this week in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, the Huthi leader said.
The Huthis reiterated the warning in Friday's statement, warning "all Israeli ships heading to or coming from the ports of occupied Palestine not to pass through" South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
"They will be a legitimate target for our armed forces," said Huthi military spokesman Yahya al Saree.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hu ... 348&ei=113
"Huthis fire at ship off Yemen as they threaten wider campaign"
Story by AFP
16 MARCH 2024
A missile launched Friday by Yemen's Huthi rebels at a ship in the Red Sea caused no damage, after they threatened to expand their harassment campaign which has disrupted global trade.
The Iran-backed rebels have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes on shipping in the commercially vital seaway over the past four months.
They say they are targeting Israel-linked shipping as part of an "axis of resistance" of Iran allies and proxies, in protest at Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, the Royal Navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations and security firm Ambrey had reported that the ship was damaged after being hit west of the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeida in the early hours of Friday.
But a daylight inspection showed that the vessel had not been impacted by the missile and had not sustained damage, UKMTO and Ambrey said in a later update.
Ambrey said the "vessel was listed as Israel-affiliated but had changed ownership in February 2024", adding that it was headed from Singapore to the Suez Canal with armed guards onboard.
The same tanker was nearly hit by a missile southeast of Yemen's port of Aden the previous day, Ambrey said.
The Huthis claimed the attack in a statement, alleging that the ship is Israeli-owned.
They identified the vessel as Pacific 01.
They also claimed a separate drone attack on a US destroyer in the Red Sea, adding that the strike "achieved its goals".
There was no immediate confirmation from Washington and AFP could not independently verify the Huthi claims.
- Widened campaign -
The flurry of Huthi attacks, including a deadly assault on a bulk carrier last week and the sinking of a ship carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, have triggered reprisal strikes by US and British forces.
On Thursday, the US military said it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones after the Huthis fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Such exchanges have become a frequent occurrence in the area, sending shipping insurance costs soaring and prompting many firms to detour around the southern tip of Africa.
Late on Thursday, rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi said the Huthis would expand their attacks to ships taking the longer route around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
"We are moving, with the grace and help of God Almighty, to prevent them from crossing even through the Indian Ocean and from South Africa," he said in a speech broadcast by the rebels' Al-Masirah TV channel.
"We have begun implementing our related operations," he added.
Twelve "targeting operations" using 58 missiles were carried out against commercial and military ships this week in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, the Huthi leader said.
The Huthis reiterated the warning in Friday's statement, warning "all Israeli ships heading to or coming from the ports of occupied Palestine not to pass through" South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
"They will be a legitimate target for our armed forces," said Huthi military spokesman Yahya al Saree.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hu ... 348&ei=113
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Associated Press - Business News
"A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels has targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden"
Story by JON GAMBRELL
17 MARCH 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels saw an explosive detonate near a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.
“No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe,” UKMTO said.
The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.
The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.
Separately, the U.S. military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis.
It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday.
It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.
Separately, the U.S. military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was “presumed to have crashed.”
“There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity,” Central Command said.
The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.
The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war.
The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.
The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.
A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.
Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel.
It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.
Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer that later sank after drifting for several days.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a- ... 8920&ei=80
"A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels has targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden"
Story by JON GAMBRELL
17 MARCH 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels saw an explosive detonate near a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.
“No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe,” UKMTO said.
The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.
The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.
Separately, the U.S. military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis.
It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday.
It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.
Separately, the U.S. military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was “presumed to have crashed.”
“There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity,” Central Command said.
The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.
The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war.
The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.
The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.
A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.
Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel.
It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.
Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer that later sank after drifting for several days.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a- ... 8920&ei=80
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
FOX News
"US military shoots down Houthi drone over the Red Sea"
Story by Greg Norman
18 MARCH 2024
The U.S. military shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea and destroyed another one on Yemeni soil.
U.S. Central Command says the Iranian-backed group "launched two unmanned Aerial vehicles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea" on Saturday morning before its forces "successfully engaged and destroyed one UAV," while the other is "presumed to have crashed into the Red Sea."
"There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity," CENTCOM said, adding that it also "destroyed five unmanned surface vessels and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense" later Saturday night.
"It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region," according to CENTCOM.
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels."
The strikes come as the Houthis launched a suspected attack Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, with an explosive detonating near a ship, the Associated Press reported.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.
UKMTO said there were no reports of damage to the ship or injuries.
U.S. Central Command said on Friday that the Houthis also "fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea."
Those launches came a day after Russian state media reported that the Houthis have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal.
"The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel," a military official close to the Houthis claimed, according to a report from the RIA Novosti news agency.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... e9c3&ei=61
"US military shoots down Houthi drone over the Red Sea"
Story by Greg Norman
18 MARCH 2024
The U.S. military shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea and destroyed another one on Yemeni soil.
U.S. Central Command says the Iranian-backed group "launched two unmanned Aerial vehicles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea" on Saturday morning before its forces "successfully engaged and destroyed one UAV," while the other is "presumed to have crashed into the Red Sea."
"There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity," CENTCOM said, adding that it also "destroyed five unmanned surface vessels and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense" later Saturday night.
"It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region," according to CENTCOM.
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels."
The strikes come as the Houthis launched a suspected attack Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, with an explosive detonating near a ship, the Associated Press reported.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.
UKMTO said there were no reports of damage to the ship or injuries.
U.S. Central Command said on Friday that the Houthis also "fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea."
Those launches came a day after Russian state media reported that the Houthis have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal.
"The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel," a military official close to the Houthis claimed, according to a report from the RIA Novosti news agency.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... e9c3&ei=61
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
BBC
"The US Navy's relentless battle against Houthi attacks"
Story by Jonathan Beale - Defence correspondent, USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier
19 MARCH 2024
It's not just merchant ships being targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
The US carrier strike group trying to protect them has also been under constant threat too.
The BBC is the first British media to visit the USS Dwight D Eisenhower since it began this mission in November.
"This is deadly stuff," says Captain Dave Wroe, who commands the four US Navy destroyers which provide the extra protection for the carrier.
It arrived soon after Yemen's Houthi's began to target merchant vessels - they say in response to Israel's assault on Gaza.
Captain Wroe lists the threats they've been facing over the past four months: anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, and now unmanned underwater vessels, or UUVs, all loaded with explosives.
UUVs are the latest threat.
He says the F-18 jets on board the carrier have recently destroyed UUVs, before they could be launched.
Captain Wroe says the Houthis have posed the greatest challenge to the US Navy in recent history.
"This is the most since World War Two," he says.
That was the last time the US operated in an area where they could be fired upon every day.
The tempo of operations on the aircraft carrier itself has also been unrelenting - with dozens of sorties being flown round the clock.
We watch as the deck crew direct the F-18s with luminous sticks, which they use to manoeuvre the jets round the flight deck at night.
Up in the carrier's flight control tower, Commander George Zintac, known as the Air Boss, is having to choreograph their movements - with a jet either launching or landing in just over a minute.
He's been in the US Navy for more than 30 years, but says "this is probably the most flying I've done on a deployment - everyday we're flying a tonne".
In daylight you can see what they've been doing.
On the side of each cockpit they've painted the silhouettes of the bombs they've dropped, the radar stations destroyed, and the drones they've shot down from the air.
They've already fired more than 300 bombs and missiles.
Row after row of more munitions are lined up in the hangar, ready for loading.
From the USS Eisenhower, or Ike as she's called by the crew, you can still see a few large merchant ships - tankers and bulk carriers sailing in the distance.
But they're fewer in number.
Normally, the Red Sea carries around 20% of the world's maritime trade.
It's the key route to Europe through the Suez Canal.
It's less vital to America, but they're the ones doing the most to try to restore freedom of navigation.
But even with the presence of a US carrier strike group, the Red Sea remains extremely dangerous waters.
While we're on board we're told the Houthis have fired another ballistic missile, traveling at more than three times the speed of sound.
The crews on the US destroyers have just minutes to track them and shoot them down.
On this occasion it's well out of range and the missile falls into the water.
Others, though, have successfully hit merchant vessels.
They've already struck several, sunk one - the Rubymar - and killed three crew on board the bulk carrier True Confidence.
Rear Admiral Marc Miguez, the Carrier Strike Group commander, sees the signs of continuing sea trade as evidence their presence has had some success.
He believes strikes led by the US, with the help of Britain, have already degraded some of the Houthis' military capabilities.
But it certainly hasn't deterred or stopped them.
Rear Admiral Miguez believes the Houthis are not acting on their own.
"Iran is backing the Houthis right now, not only with weapons and technology, but also providing targeting information intelligence and support," he says.
I ask why then is the US not also targeting Iran?
"That's a policy decision," he says, "but the roots of this start with Iran."
In reality, US President Joe Biden does not want to spark a wider Middle East conflict, particularly in an election year.
Admiral Miguez says they'll stay for "as long as we're needed".
But there are limits to sustaining this level of military presence.
Unlike the Houthis, they're away from home with few creature comforts.
Every meal on board is literally feeding the five thousand.
The food bill on the carrier alone is $2m (£1.6m) a month.
Captain Chris Hill, the commanding officer of Ike, says "people need breaks, they need to go home".
But he says they don't yet have dates for when that'll happen.
So one of his tasks is to maintain the crews morale and resilience.
He even has a dog on board to help.
Demo, a facility dog who's been trained for life on the carrier, walks the mess decks to help lift the crew's spirits.
He's not short of affection and Captain Hill says Demo has helped reduce some of the stress of being away for months on end.
Most of the crew rarely see daylight.
But as for the USS Dwight D Eisenhower's main mission, it's still too early to judge what lasting effect it'll have achieved.
Captain Hill says: "It's difficult to define winning and losing in this kind of conflict."
"Ideally, we want to stop every Houthi attack."
When I ask whether that's achievable, he replies that it's "hard to say".
He suggests it will also require wider government and international efforts.
In short, it'll take more than a powerful US carrier strike group to resolve this crisis.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/th ... 591&ei=218
"The US Navy's relentless battle against Houthi attacks"
Story by Jonathan Beale - Defence correspondent, USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier
19 MARCH 2024
It's not just merchant ships being targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
The US carrier strike group trying to protect them has also been under constant threat too.
The BBC is the first British media to visit the USS Dwight D Eisenhower since it began this mission in November.
"This is deadly stuff," says Captain Dave Wroe, who commands the four US Navy destroyers which provide the extra protection for the carrier.
It arrived soon after Yemen's Houthi's began to target merchant vessels - they say in response to Israel's assault on Gaza.
Captain Wroe lists the threats they've been facing over the past four months: anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, and now unmanned underwater vessels, or UUVs, all loaded with explosives.
UUVs are the latest threat.
He says the F-18 jets on board the carrier have recently destroyed UUVs, before they could be launched.
Captain Wroe says the Houthis have posed the greatest challenge to the US Navy in recent history.
"This is the most since World War Two," he says.
That was the last time the US operated in an area where they could be fired upon every day.
The tempo of operations on the aircraft carrier itself has also been unrelenting - with dozens of sorties being flown round the clock.
We watch as the deck crew direct the F-18s with luminous sticks, which they use to manoeuvre the jets round the flight deck at night.
Up in the carrier's flight control tower, Commander George Zintac, known as the Air Boss, is having to choreograph their movements - with a jet either launching or landing in just over a minute.
He's been in the US Navy for more than 30 years, but says "this is probably the most flying I've done on a deployment - everyday we're flying a tonne".
In daylight you can see what they've been doing.
On the side of each cockpit they've painted the silhouettes of the bombs they've dropped, the radar stations destroyed, and the drones they've shot down from the air.
They've already fired more than 300 bombs and missiles.
Row after row of more munitions are lined up in the hangar, ready for loading.
From the USS Eisenhower, or Ike as she's called by the crew, you can still see a few large merchant ships - tankers and bulk carriers sailing in the distance.
But they're fewer in number.
Normally, the Red Sea carries around 20% of the world's maritime trade.
It's the key route to Europe through the Suez Canal.
It's less vital to America, but they're the ones doing the most to try to restore freedom of navigation.
But even with the presence of a US carrier strike group, the Red Sea remains extremely dangerous waters.
While we're on board we're told the Houthis have fired another ballistic missile, traveling at more than three times the speed of sound.
The crews on the US destroyers have just minutes to track them and shoot them down.
On this occasion it's well out of range and the missile falls into the water.
Others, though, have successfully hit merchant vessels.
They've already struck several, sunk one - the Rubymar - and killed three crew on board the bulk carrier True Confidence.
Rear Admiral Marc Miguez, the Carrier Strike Group commander, sees the signs of continuing sea trade as evidence their presence has had some success.
He believes strikes led by the US, with the help of Britain, have already degraded some of the Houthis' military capabilities.
But it certainly hasn't deterred or stopped them.
Rear Admiral Miguez believes the Houthis are not acting on their own.
"Iran is backing the Houthis right now, not only with weapons and technology, but also providing targeting information intelligence and support," he says.
I ask why then is the US not also targeting Iran?
"That's a policy decision," he says, "but the roots of this start with Iran."
In reality, US President Joe Biden does not want to spark a wider Middle East conflict, particularly in an election year.
Admiral Miguez says they'll stay for "as long as we're needed".
But there are limits to sustaining this level of military presence.
Unlike the Houthis, they're away from home with few creature comforts.
Every meal on board is literally feeding the five thousand.
The food bill on the carrier alone is $2m (£1.6m) a month.
Captain Chris Hill, the commanding officer of Ike, says "people need breaks, they need to go home".
But he says they don't yet have dates for when that'll happen.
So one of his tasks is to maintain the crews morale and resilience.
He even has a dog on board to help.
Demo, a facility dog who's been trained for life on the carrier, walks the mess decks to help lift the crew's spirits.
He's not short of affection and Captain Hill says Demo has helped reduce some of the stress of being away for months on end.
Most of the crew rarely see daylight.
But as for the USS Dwight D Eisenhower's main mission, it's still too early to judge what lasting effect it'll have achieved.
Captain Hill says: "It's difficult to define winning and losing in this kind of conflict."
"Ideally, we want to stop every Houthi attack."
When I ask whether that's achievable, he replies that it's "hard to say".
He suggests it will also require wider government and international efforts.
In short, it'll take more than a powerful US carrier strike group to resolve this crisis.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/th ... 591&ei=218
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
TrendyDigests
"USS Gerald R. Ford Ends Deployment Amid Intensified Red Sea Security Concerns"
Story by Emma Taylor
21 MARCH 2024
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, has concluded its extended deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean and returns to its homeport.
This deployment, which lasted for approximately eight months, came at a pivotal moment when tensions in the Middle East reached a crescendo following Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7.
In a strategic show of force and commitment to Israel’s defense, the Ford was positioned within striking distance of the embattled nation just a day after the conflict with Hamas escalated.
This deployment served a dual purpose: to underscore the U.S. dedication to its allies and to contribute to wider efforts aimed at deterring further regional instability.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a significant visit to the Ford during its deployment, signaling the importance of the carrier strike group’s mission and its role in deterring aggression.
Alongside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, another U.S. carrier, the Ford’s presence marked a two-carrier operation in the region, enveloping the conflict with a potent maritime force that sent a clear message to potential aggressors about the seriousness of the U.S. commitment.
Despite its primary mission to aid Israel, the Ford and its accompanying vessels, including three guided-missile destroyers and one guided-missile cruiser, also engaged in defensive operations in the Red Sea.
The carrier strike group’s proficiency was demonstrated when accompanying warships sailing into the Red Sea successfully intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
The strategic importance of the Red Sea, and particularly the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, has been magnified due to repeated attacks on commercial shipping by Iranian-backed Houthi forces.
One notable incident involved helicopters from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group responding to a distress call from the container ship Maersk Hangzhou, which was under attack.
The incident, resulting in the sinking of three Houthi boats by U.S. forces, highlighted the volatility of the region and the crucial role of U.S. maritime power in safeguarding critical international shipping lanes.
The U.S. 6th Fleet has stated that the departure of the Ford will not leave a vacuum in the region.
The Ford’s absence will be filled by the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and its warships, the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Carter Hall.
These vessels will carry on the task of securing the Eastern Mediterranean alongside approximately 2,000 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, capable of supporting a broad spectrum of missions.
The Bataan, equipped to support rotary aircraft and Marine Corps F-35 vertical takeoff fighter jets, is set to maintain the U.S. Navy’s operational readiness in the region.
As the Ford sailed for its home at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the commanding officer, Capt. Rick Burgess, lauded the crew’s exceptional performance throughout the protracted deployment.
Despite the extended duration at sea, which culminated in a 239-day deployment that was 76 days longer than originally planned, “Ford Sailors honored our namesake’s legacies of hard work, integrity, and courage,” Burgess stated.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... d8c2&ei=39
"USS Gerald R. Ford Ends Deployment Amid Intensified Red Sea Security Concerns"
Story by Emma Taylor
21 MARCH 2024
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, has concluded its extended deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean and returns to its homeport.
This deployment, which lasted for approximately eight months, came at a pivotal moment when tensions in the Middle East reached a crescendo following Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7.
In a strategic show of force and commitment to Israel’s defense, the Ford was positioned within striking distance of the embattled nation just a day after the conflict with Hamas escalated.
This deployment served a dual purpose: to underscore the U.S. dedication to its allies and to contribute to wider efforts aimed at deterring further regional instability.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a significant visit to the Ford during its deployment, signaling the importance of the carrier strike group’s mission and its role in deterring aggression.
Alongside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, another U.S. carrier, the Ford’s presence marked a two-carrier operation in the region, enveloping the conflict with a potent maritime force that sent a clear message to potential aggressors about the seriousness of the U.S. commitment.
Despite its primary mission to aid Israel, the Ford and its accompanying vessels, including three guided-missile destroyers and one guided-missile cruiser, also engaged in defensive operations in the Red Sea.
The carrier strike group’s proficiency was demonstrated when accompanying warships sailing into the Red Sea successfully intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
The strategic importance of the Red Sea, and particularly the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, has been magnified due to repeated attacks on commercial shipping by Iranian-backed Houthi forces.
One notable incident involved helicopters from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group responding to a distress call from the container ship Maersk Hangzhou, which was under attack.
The incident, resulting in the sinking of three Houthi boats by U.S. forces, highlighted the volatility of the region and the crucial role of U.S. maritime power in safeguarding critical international shipping lanes.
The U.S. 6th Fleet has stated that the departure of the Ford will not leave a vacuum in the region.
The Ford’s absence will be filled by the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and its warships, the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Carter Hall.
These vessels will carry on the task of securing the Eastern Mediterranean alongside approximately 2,000 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, capable of supporting a broad spectrum of missions.
The Bataan, equipped to support rotary aircraft and Marine Corps F-35 vertical takeoff fighter jets, is set to maintain the U.S. Navy’s operational readiness in the region.
As the Ford sailed for its home at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the commanding officer, Capt. Rick Burgess, lauded the crew’s exceptional performance throughout the protracted deployment.
Despite the extended duration at sea, which culminated in a 239-day deployment that was 76 days longer than originally planned, “Ford Sailors honored our namesake’s legacies of hard work, integrity, and courage,” Burgess stated.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... d8c2&ei=39
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
REUTERS
"Red Sea fighting traps two oil ships in Houthi waters"
By Jonathan Saul, Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari
March 21, 2024
Summary
* Two oil ships stranded off Yemen's Red Sea coast
* Nearby fighting has prevented a U.N. deal to remove them
* One tanker has 1 mln barrels of oil onboard
LONDON/ADEN, March 21 (Reuters) - Two tankers, containing oil and toxic waste, are stuck in the Red Sea in the firing line between Western naval forces and Yemen's Houthi militants despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to empty and move the ships to avoid a spill.
The vessels, one of which has been stranded for years, are near the port of Ras Issa from where Iran-aligned Houthis launch missiles on ships passing through the Red Sea and where U.S. missiles land as they target the Houthis.
The United Nations last year led efforts to remove a million barrels of oil from the decaying tanker, the FSO Safer, to a new tanker, the MT Yemen, in an operation that cost $121 million.
The UN had hoped to move the FSO Safer, which still contains toxic waste water and oily residue, for disposal elsewhere and sell the oil aboard the MT Yemen.
Neither of the ships has moved since August as the Houthis and their foes in Yemen’s internationally-recognised government could not agree who should receive the money for the oil, a Houthi source speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters.
The source also said there was no agreement to tow the ship away.
The UN Development Programme said it was in discussion "with all relevant parties in Yemen" about the handover of the vessel.
"(UNDP) has not had any indication from the de facto authorities in Yemen of threats to deliberately damage the vessel," a UNDP spokesperson said, referring to the Houthis.
A source with the internationally recognised Yemeni government, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said he believed the Houthis have refused to release either of the ships and were using them to increase their bargaining power.
TOXIC SLUDGE
A former supertanker built in the 1970s, the FSO Safer was converted into a floating storage and offloading facility for oil before the outbreak of civil war in Yemen in 2014.
It is so decayed its rotting hull threatened to spill its cargo into the Red Sea.
Last year, the United Nations contracted Dutch-based SMIT Salvage, which removed the oil.
Belgium's Euronav provided the MT Yemen vessel.
The toxic sludge and wash water used to scrub oil out of the tanker have still not been removed, a shipping source said.
He asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter and added that some 70,000 metric tons of residue were still onboard the FSO Safer.
A spokesperson for Boskalis, the parent company of SMIT salvage, said it had been contracted to remove the oil but not the Safer vessel.
Belgium's Euronav has maintained a crew onboard the MT Yemen since August under its contract with the UN.
"Once the handover process is complete, the crew will leave," the UNDP spokesperson said.
Euronav said it continued to assist the UNDP to safely handover the MT Yemen.
It did not specify who might ultimately receive the ship.
Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari; Editing by Simon Webb, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Barbara Lewis
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 024-03-21/
"Red Sea fighting traps two oil ships in Houthi waters"
By Jonathan Saul, Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari
March 21, 2024
Summary
* Two oil ships stranded off Yemen's Red Sea coast
* Nearby fighting has prevented a U.N. deal to remove them
* One tanker has 1 mln barrels of oil onboard
LONDON/ADEN, March 21 (Reuters) - Two tankers, containing oil and toxic waste, are stuck in the Red Sea in the firing line between Western naval forces and Yemen's Houthi militants despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to empty and move the ships to avoid a spill.
The vessels, one of which has been stranded for years, are near the port of Ras Issa from where Iran-aligned Houthis launch missiles on ships passing through the Red Sea and where U.S. missiles land as they target the Houthis.
The United Nations last year led efforts to remove a million barrels of oil from the decaying tanker, the FSO Safer, to a new tanker, the MT Yemen, in an operation that cost $121 million.
The UN had hoped to move the FSO Safer, which still contains toxic waste water and oily residue, for disposal elsewhere and sell the oil aboard the MT Yemen.
Neither of the ships has moved since August as the Houthis and their foes in Yemen’s internationally-recognised government could not agree who should receive the money for the oil, a Houthi source speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters.
The source also said there was no agreement to tow the ship away.
The UN Development Programme said it was in discussion "with all relevant parties in Yemen" about the handover of the vessel.
"(UNDP) has not had any indication from the de facto authorities in Yemen of threats to deliberately damage the vessel," a UNDP spokesperson said, referring to the Houthis.
A source with the internationally recognised Yemeni government, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said he believed the Houthis have refused to release either of the ships and were using them to increase their bargaining power.
TOXIC SLUDGE
A former supertanker built in the 1970s, the FSO Safer was converted into a floating storage and offloading facility for oil before the outbreak of civil war in Yemen in 2014.
It is so decayed its rotting hull threatened to spill its cargo into the Red Sea.
Last year, the United Nations contracted Dutch-based SMIT Salvage, which removed the oil.
Belgium's Euronav provided the MT Yemen vessel.
The toxic sludge and wash water used to scrub oil out of the tanker have still not been removed, a shipping source said.
He asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter and added that some 70,000 metric tons of residue were still onboard the FSO Safer.
A spokesperson for Boskalis, the parent company of SMIT salvage, said it had been contracted to remove the oil but not the Safer vessel.
Belgium's Euronav has maintained a crew onboard the MT Yemen since August under its contract with the UN.
"Once the handover process is complete, the crew will leave," the UNDP spokesperson said.
Euronav said it continued to assist the UNDP to safely handover the MT Yemen.
It did not specify who might ultimately receive the ship.
Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari; Editing by Simon Webb, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Barbara Lewis
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 024-03-21/
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Jerusalem Post
"US says it conducted self-defense strikes against Houthi facilities"
Story by REUTERS
23 MARCH 2024
US forces conducted self-defense strikes against three Houthi underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday.
The strikes targeted capabilities used by the Houthis to threaten and attack naval and merchant vessels in the region, it posted in a statement on X.
CENTCOM also said its forces had destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense.
Attacks by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea region, which the Iran-aligned militants say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to take longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.
Houthi leaders call foreign intervention, attacks 'reckless'
The head of the Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, said earlier there had been "reckless" US-British attacks on Yemen.
The Houthi-run Saba News Agency said US and British aircraft had launched five raids on Hodeidah, the area where Yemen's main port is located.
CENTCOM said that during the time frame of the US attacks on the UAVs, Houthi militants had fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea.
"There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships," it said.
CENTCOM said its strikes on the storage facilities were "actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 190e&ei=35
"US says it conducted self-defense strikes against Houthi facilities"
Story by REUTERS
23 MARCH 2024
US forces conducted self-defense strikes against three Houthi underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday.
The strikes targeted capabilities used by the Houthis to threaten and attack naval and merchant vessels in the region, it posted in a statement on X.
CENTCOM also said its forces had destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense.
Attacks by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea region, which the Iran-aligned militants say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to take longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.
Houthi leaders call foreign intervention, attacks 'reckless'
The head of the Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, said earlier there had been "reckless" US-British attacks on Yemen.
The Houthi-run Saba News Agency said US and British aircraft had launched five raids on Hodeidah, the area where Yemen's main port is located.
CENTCOM said that during the time frame of the US attacks on the UAVs, Houthi militants had fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea.
"There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships," it said.
CENTCOM said its strikes on the storage facilities were "actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 190e&ei=35
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Jerusalem Post
"Oil tanker crew tackle fire after projectile strike off Yemen - maritime agency"
Story by REUTERS
23 MARCH 2024
A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile off Yemen on Saturday, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The incident happened 23 nautical miles northwest of the Red Sea port of al-Mukha, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also reported the incident, saying the fire was extinguished by the crew.
"Vessel and crew reported safe."
"Vessel continuing to next port of call," UKMTO added in an advisory note.
Ambrey said the tanker was registered under Union Maritime Ltd, a UK company, in 2019 before changing its registration details, including name and operator, last month.
"At the time of writing, she had changed course to starboard and continued on her journey to New Mangalore, India," the Ambrey statement said.
Houthis have been attacking for months in the Red Sea
Months of attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi terrorists following the Israel-Hamas war have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoked fears that the war could spread to destabilize the wider Middle East.
The Houthis say their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and they will not stop until Israel ends the war and withdraws from the enclave.
The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and redesignated the militia as a terrorist group.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/oi ... 5b49&ei=37
"Oil tanker crew tackle fire after projectile strike off Yemen - maritime agency"
Story by REUTERS
23 MARCH 2024
A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile off Yemen on Saturday, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The incident happened 23 nautical miles northwest of the Red Sea port of al-Mukha, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also reported the incident, saying the fire was extinguished by the crew.
"Vessel and crew reported safe."
"Vessel continuing to next port of call," UKMTO added in an advisory note.
Ambrey said the tanker was registered under Union Maritime Ltd, a UK company, in 2019 before changing its registration details, including name and operator, last month.
"At the time of writing, she had changed course to starboard and continued on her journey to New Mangalore, India," the Ambrey statement said.
Houthis have been attacking for months in the Red Sea
Months of attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi terrorists following the Israel-Hamas war have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoked fears that the war could spread to destabilize the wider Middle East.
The Houthis say their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and they will not stop until Israel ends the war and withdraws from the enclave.
The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and redesignated the militia as a terrorist group.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/oi ... 5b49&ei=37
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
Business Insider
"Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Chinese ship with missiles after promising to leave them alone"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
26 MARCH 2024
* The Houthis reportedly said they would avoid attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen.
* But the Iran-backed rebels fired multiple missiles at a Beijing-owned tanker on Saturday.
* Last week, a US general warned lawmakers about deepening ties between Iran, China, and Russia.
The Houthis said they would refrain from attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen, but this past weekend, the Iran-backed rebels did exactly what they said they wouldn't.
Early Saturday morning local time, the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Huang Pu, a Chinese-owned oil tanker, as the ship was transiting the Red Sea, according to US Central Command, or CENTCOM.
Hours later, the Houthis fired a fifth ballistic missile at the Huang Pu, which suffered "minimal damage" and a small fire but no casualties in the attack, CENTCOM said in a statement Saturday.
It noted that the ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance.
It was ultimately able to resume its journey.
"The Houthis attacked the M/V Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels," CENTCOM said.
For months, the Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack ships with ties to various countries in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
But the rebels recently signed an agreement with China and Russia to guarantee their vessels safe transit through the volatile region, in exchange for possible political support at the United Nations, Bloomberg reported last week.
China and Russia have strong diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, which is the Houthis' main backer.
Tehran, for example, supplies the rebels with advanced weaponry that they have used in their ongoing attacks.
A deepening partnership between China, Russia, and Iran
Gen. Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, warned US lawmakers last week that the three countries are strengthening their ties and "creating a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation and the spread of extremism."
China, Russia, and Iran "have deepened their partnership and collaboration as Iran seeks to strengthen its regional position, Russia leverages Iranian military support in Ukraine, and the PRC aims to exploit tensions in the region to afford them a position of advantage and diminishes US interests," Kurilla said in written testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.
The general said that it is "noteworthy" that China buys 90% of exported Iranian oil, "which they could use to influence Iranian lethal aid to the Houthis if they chose to."
"Instead, Beijing only helps Tehran evade sanctions and accelerate its destabilization of the region," Kurilla said.
"The PRC's unwillingness, or inability, to leverage its influence has contributed to Iran's disruption of the free flow of international commerce."
And Iran's unchecked malign activities put a Chinese ship at risk.
The M/V Huang Pu is Chinese owned and operated, but it was sailing under the flag of Panama when it was attacked.
Furthermore, according to maritime security agency Ambrey, the vessel's registration details were changed last month, so it's possible that the rebels confused its identity.
Meanwhile, amid the attack on the Huang Pu on Saturday, US forces engaged six Houthi drones over the southern Red Sea.
Five of the systems crashed into the water, while the sixth flew back inland into Yemen.
"It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM said.
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ir ... 9861&ei=38
"Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Chinese ship with missiles after promising to leave them alone"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
26 MARCH 2024
* The Houthis reportedly said they would avoid attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen.
* But the Iran-backed rebels fired multiple missiles at a Beijing-owned tanker on Saturday.
* Last week, a US general warned lawmakers about deepening ties between Iran, China, and Russia.
The Houthis said they would refrain from attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen, but this past weekend, the Iran-backed rebels did exactly what they said they wouldn't.
Early Saturday morning local time, the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Huang Pu, a Chinese-owned oil tanker, as the ship was transiting the Red Sea, according to US Central Command, or CENTCOM.
Hours later, the Houthis fired a fifth ballistic missile at the Huang Pu, which suffered "minimal damage" and a small fire but no casualties in the attack, CENTCOM said in a statement Saturday.
It noted that the ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance.
It was ultimately able to resume its journey.
"The Houthis attacked the M/V Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels," CENTCOM said.
For months, the Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack ships with ties to various countries in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
But the rebels recently signed an agreement with China and Russia to guarantee their vessels safe transit through the volatile region, in exchange for possible political support at the United Nations, Bloomberg reported last week.
China and Russia have strong diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, which is the Houthis' main backer.
Tehran, for example, supplies the rebels with advanced weaponry that they have used in their ongoing attacks.
A deepening partnership between China, Russia, and Iran
Gen. Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, warned US lawmakers last week that the three countries are strengthening their ties and "creating a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation and the spread of extremism."
China, Russia, and Iran "have deepened their partnership and collaboration as Iran seeks to strengthen its regional position, Russia leverages Iranian military support in Ukraine, and the PRC aims to exploit tensions in the region to afford them a position of advantage and diminishes US interests," Kurilla said in written testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.
The general said that it is "noteworthy" that China buys 90% of exported Iranian oil, "which they could use to influence Iranian lethal aid to the Houthis if they chose to."
"Instead, Beijing only helps Tehran evade sanctions and accelerate its destabilization of the region," Kurilla said.
"The PRC's unwillingness, or inability, to leverage its influence has contributed to Iran's disruption of the free flow of international commerce."
And Iran's unchecked malign activities put a Chinese ship at risk.
The M/V Huang Pu is Chinese owned and operated, but it was sailing under the flag of Panama when it was attacked.
Furthermore, according to maritime security agency Ambrey, the vessel's registration details were changed last month, so it's possible that the rebels confused its identity.
Meanwhile, amid the attack on the Huang Pu on Saturday, US forces engaged six Houthi drones over the southern Red Sea.
Five of the systems crashed into the water, while the sixth flew back inland into Yemen.
"It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM said.
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ir ... 9861&ei=38