United States: On Tuesday, United States and British naval forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis toward the southern Red Sea, the US said, with Britain hinting at additional measures to safeguard international maritime channels.
International Response and Potential Action
According to British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, it was the militants’ largest offensive in the area so far, as Israel’s three-month-long battle with Hamas in Gaza spilled over into other parts of the Middle East.
“This is an unsustainable situation,” Shapps told reporters, adding, “Watch this space” with regards to further possible action by Britain and its international partners.
“This cannot continue and cannot be allowed to continue.”
The United States Central Command stated that no injuries or damage were recorded and that this was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lines in the Red Sea since November 19.
Houthi Response and Regional Implications
Later that day, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that Iranian-backed rebels fired a significant number of ballistic and naval missiles, as well as drones, at a US ship that was “providing support” to Israel.
In a televised statement, Saree did not specify when the Houthi strike occurred or how much damage, if any, the vessel had sustained but did state that the action was a “preliminary response” to a prior US airstrike that killed 10 Houthi fighters, according to the report by Reuters.
The US Fifth Fleet, which is located in the Gulf and has sent naval forces to safeguard Red Sea ships from an increase in Houthi attacks, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It was unclear whether the missile and drone volley at the US ship described by a Houthi spokesman was related to the US and British naval actions.
Impact on Global Trade Routes
The Houthis, who rule the majority of Yemen, have been attacking Red Sea commercial routes to demonstrate their support for Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization. The latest attacks were seen as a “clear escalation” by Germany’s foreign ministry.
The attacks have severely hampered international business along the crucial route between Europe and Asia, which accounts for approximately 15% of global marine activity.
Many shipping corporations have been forced to reroute vessels, resulting in a lengthier journey around Africa, while several oil giants, refiners, and tradehouses have continued to use it.
USS Central Command reported that the two fleets shot down 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile on Tuesday.
According to Shapps, the Royal Navy ship HMS Diamond, which resisted the attacks with US warships, may have been directly targeted, but there was also “a generalized attack on all shipping.”
The Houthis have sworn to continue attacking Israel until the conflict in Gaza is resolved, and they have threatened to attack US warships if the paramilitary group is attacked.
Hapag Lloyd, a German shipping company, said on Tuesday that it would continue to avoid the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope for security reasons, while Danish rival Maersk (Maersk. CO) said it would avoid the route “for the foreseeable future.”
Retailers around the world have also been stockpiling goods ahead of China’s Lunar New Year break, and many are looking for air or rail solutions to prevent bare shelves coming spring.