Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

Houthis strike another US Ship in Red Sea as Biden concedes airstrikes have neglected to incapacitate rebels

In a recent turn of events, the Houthi rebels launched anti-ship ballistic missiles targeting a US-owned vessel late on Thursday. This act comes as President Joe Biden candidly admitted that the previous American airstrikes have fallen short in deterring the militants’ assaults in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed rebels claimed responsibility for launching two missiles at the “Chem Ranger,” asserting that they achieved “direct hits” on the ship. However, US officials countered these claims, stating that the missiles hit the water, causing no damage to the tanker and resulting in no injuries to those on board. Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

The targeted vessel, a relatively small chemical tanker, had departed from the Red Sea port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, en route to Kuwait. Notably, its automatic identification system (AIS) went offline before proceeding south past Yemen, according to monitoring service TankerTrackers.com.

This latest attack is perceived as a retaliatory measure against the weeks-long American military airstrikes in Yemen, specifically targeting the Houthi rebels. The Red Sea has become a focal point of growing tension, disrupting global trade and instigating concerns about potential supply bottlenecks.

The Houthi militia has intensified its attacks on ships associated with Israel in and around the Red Sea, escalating the conflict in Gaza. President Biden, addressing the situation on Thursday, affirmed the continuation of strikes against the Houthis but conceded that the effectiveness of previous airstrikes has been limited. Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

“When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis, no. Are they going to continue, yes,” remarked President Biden, acknowledging the persistent challenges in curbing Houthi aggression.

A US official reported a fifth military strike on Thursday morning, targeting another missile launcher site. The previous day witnessed a renewed wave of ship-and-submarine-launched missile strikes against sites controlled by the militants. Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

In response to the escalating tensions, the US reclassified the Houthis as specially designated global terrorists, imposing sanctions to disrupt their financing sources. The objective is to cut off violent extremist groups from funding while ensuring the flow of essential humanitarian aid to Yemenis in need.

Despite these measures, the Houthis persist in harassing both commercial and military ships, prompting strong warnings from the US to Iran to cease weapon supplies to the rebels.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed ongoing concern, highlighting the persistence of attacks on commercial shipping in the region despite joint military action. He emphasized the collective condemnation of Houthi behavior by allies and urged them to refrain from illegal attacks endangering lives. Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

In response to the ongoing crisis, the US and its allies have formed “Operation Prosperity Guardian” to protect ship traffic. Currently, warships from the US, France, and the UK are actively patrolling the area.

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, asserted that the strikes would continue for as long as necessary. “These strikes will continue for as long as they need to continue,” Kirby stated, underlining the resolve to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Houthis Strike Another US Ship in Red Sea

The Middle East crisis further intensified after Iran fired missiles targeting alleged terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, resulting in cross-border tensions. The situation remains dynamic, heightening fears of conflict spreading across the region, as geopolitical uncertainties continue to unfold.