Washington D.C.: In a significant development, an American warship, identified as the USS Carney, along with multiple commercial vessels, faced attacks in the Red Sea on Sunday. The Pentagon confirmed the incidents, marking a potential escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Middle East associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available,” stated the Pentagon in response to the unfolding situation. The USS Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
While the Pentagon did not specify the source of the attack, there have been ongoing concerns about Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have previously targeted vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels have also launched drones and missiles, particularly towards Israel, amid the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the attack began in Sanaa, Yemen, around 10 a.m. and persisted for up to five hours. The USS Carney reportedly intercepted at least one drone during the assault.
The British military had earlier reported a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea without providing further details.
The global shipping sector has increasingly become a target amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, raising concerns about the potential expansion of regional hostilities. The recent collapse of a truce and the resumption of Israeli airstrikes have heightened the risk of seaborne attacks.
This incident follows the Houthis’ seizure of a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in November. The rebels continue to hold the vessel near Hodeida, Yemen. Last week, missiles landed near another U.S. warship after it assisted a vessel connected to Israel that had been briefly seized by gunmen.
The Houthis had refrained from directly targeting Americans for some time, adding a new dimension to the growing maritime conflict in the region.
As the situation unfolds, global attention is focused on the evolving dynamics of the Israel-Hamas conflict and its wider implications on maritime security in the Middle East.
