In what marks a new chapter in the ongoing maritime hostilities in the Red Sea, U.S. Central Command has confirmed a series of self-defense strikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including the first recorded instance of a Houthi unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) since attacks began in October. The military operation, which took place on Saturday between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time, also neutralized three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and an unmanned surface vessel (USV), all deemed imminent threats to U.S. Navy and merchant vessels operating in the region.
The Houthi rebels, an Iranian-backed group controlling significant parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have been escalating their maritime assaults, primarily targeting commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea—a major shipping route linking Europe and Asia. Although the group has claimed its attacks are directed at vessels affiliated with Israel, responding to the country’s actions in Gaza, many of the ships under fire have no such connections. These indiscriminate attacks pose severe risks to international navigation and have disrupted a crucial shipping corridor, prompting several shipping giants to reroute around the area, significantly increasing costs and contributing to global shipping delays.
CENTCOM stated, “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.” The gravity of the threat has been underscored by the U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood at a UN Security Council Briefing on Yemen, noting, “The Houthis are trying to apply a chokehold on global shipping through the Red Sea.”
The U.S. and its allies, including the United Kingdom, had commenced retaliatory strikes against Houthi positions in January, following the intensification of rebel attacks. The decision to carry out these self-defense strikes comes after the U.S. government re-designated the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, in light of their increased aggression in the strategic waters.
In recent months, the conflict has broadened beyond traditional warfare, with Houthis deploying new tactics including unmanned maritime drones—both surface and underwater. U.S. naval forces have been on high alert, as these technologies present a novel and potentially lethal threat. Rear Admiral Marc Miguez described the underwater drones as an “unknown threat that we don’t have a lot of intel on, that could be extremely lethal.”
Relevant articles:
– U.S. military reports 1st Houthi unmanned underwater vessel in Red Sea
– The U.S. military says it struck a Houthi underwater vessel in the Red Sea, NPR, Sun, 18 Feb 2024 22:49:26 GMT
– Houthi rebels suspected in attack that damaged a Belize-flagged ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait, ABC News, Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:49:06 GMT
– The Houthis have deployed underwater drones in the Red Sea, Defense Department says, Business Insider, Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:57:00 GMT