How US and UK foiled ‘largest Houthi attack’ in Red Sea

The US and the UK have repelled a major Houthi attack in the Red Sea. The combined naval forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday towards international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea. Britain said this was the Houthis’ largest attack in the area so far. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen and are backed by Iran, have been targeting the route to show their support for Hamas in the backdrop of the three-month war with Israel. But what happened exactly? Let’s take a closer look The Houthis “launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs … anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile” from areas in Yemen, the United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. As per BBC, this attack occurred 9.15 pm local time. CENTCOM said it brought down 18 drones on its own as well as two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile working in concert with the UK.

This was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since 19 November.

As per Al Jazeera, the US’ Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and four destroyers including one from the UK, participated in the operation. The US destroyers were the USS Gravely, USS Laboon, and the USS Mason. As per The New York Times, F/A-18 fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and other warships intercepted the attack. The UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said that the HMS Diamond participated in deterring “the largest attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date”. “Destroying multiple attack drones with her guns and sea viper missiles,” he wrote on X. A source told the BBC the HMS Diamond brought down seven Houthi drones. Each viper missile costs over $1.3 million. The HMS Diamond is described the Royal Navy as a “a jewel in the naval crown”, as per The Guardian. [caption id=“attachment_13598892” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released 20 November. Reuters[/caption] “The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences,” Shapps was quoted as saying by BBC. “We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy.” US Central Command said no injuries nor damage were reported. The New York Times quoted US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken as warning of ‘consequences’ if the attacks continue. “We’re determined, again, that we not see escalation, that we don’t have the conflict spread, and we’ve made that very clear,” Blinken said. But of course, if our personnel, if our forces are threatened or attacked, we’ll take appropriate steps.” The attacks have seriously disrupted international commerce on the key route between Europe and Asia that accounts for about 15 per cent of the world’s shipping traffic. Many shipping companies have been forced to reroute their vessels, taking the longer journey around Africa, although several oil majors, refiners and trading houses have continued to use it. The Iranian-backed Houthis have vowed to continue attacks until Israel halts the conflict in Gaza, and warned they would attack US warships if the militia group itself was targeted. US defense secretary Lloyd Austin had in December  announced the creation of a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea following a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Austin said participating countries include the UK Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain would conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In their response, Houthi rebels said they would not halt attacks on Red Sea shipping in solidarity.

“Even if America succeeds in mobilising the entire world, our military operations will not stop… no matter the sacrifices it costs us,” senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, formerly Twitter. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council in New York is scheduled to vote on 10 January  on a draft resolution that the US has submitted, reported Al Jazeera. The resolution denounces the attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and calls for an immediate cessation of such acts, along with the release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. German shipping group Hapag Lloyd said on Tuesday it would continue to avoid the Suez Canal and around the Cape of Good Hope for security reasons, while its Danish rival Maersk has said it would avoid the route “for the foreseeable future”. Retailers across the world have also been stocking up on goods before China’s Lunar New Year holiday and seeking air or rail alternatives to avoid empty shelves this spring. The Israel-Hamas war began on 7 October after thousands of Hamas terrorists crossed the border and killed scores of Israelis. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin had in December announced the creation of a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea following a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. [caption id=“attachment_13597662” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. AP File[/caption] Austin said participating countries including the UK Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain would conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In their response, Houthi rebels said they would not halt attacks on Red Sea shipping in solidarity. “Even if America succeeds in mobilising the entire world, our military operations will not stop… no matter the sacrifices it costs us,” senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, formerly Twitter. Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said the “US-formed coalition aims to protect Israel and militarise the sea,” adding that “whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of those actions.” Austinhad said: “This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative”. In a virtual meeting with Ministers from more than 40 nations, Austin called on other countries to contribute as he condemned “reckless Houthi actions.” “We’re all here because many countries can directly contribute to our common efforts to keep strategic waterways safe,” Mr. Austin said, according to prepared remarks. With inputs from agencies