Yemen’s Houthi rebels are increasing drone attacks on commercial ships in the Suez Canal, officially in retaliation for the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
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Attacks of this kind are increasing. A US destroyer operating in the Red Sea shot down 14 drones launched from “areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis”declared the American military Command in the Middle East (Centcom), Saturday, December 16.
Drones “were identified as attack drones” and were “shot down without causing damage to vessels in the area or injuries reported”specified Centcom on (ex-Twitter). The operation, led by the destroyer USS Carney, took place “in the early morning on Saturday” local time, and “the region’s partners in the Red Sea have been warned of the threat”.
Houthi rebels, close to Iran, have warned that they will target ships off the coast of Yemen and with links to Israel, in response to the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Faced with the risk, several giants in the maritime transport sector have announced that they are reducing or even temporarily interrupting all ship passages in dangerous areas. In recent weeks, several missiles and drones have been shot down by British, French or American warships patrolling the area.
