Threats to shipping further escalated on Thursday after a drone boat loaded with explosives launched by Yemen's Houthi terrorists exploded in the Red Sea, while a group of as-yet-unidentified but probably Somali pirates seized a Liberian-flagged ship near the Red Sea. attacked a merchant ship. coast of Somalia.
drone boat exploded The U.S. Navy said it did not cause any damage or casualties to other ships in the Red Sea, but the attack on the shipping lane appears to have failed.
“We all saw it collide and explode within miles of commercial ships and U.S. Navy ships that were operating in this area,” said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Navy in the Middle East.
“The shipping lanes in this region are congested. Ships are approaching choke points,” Cooper said. explained. “This, combined with the fact that Houthi missiles often miss their intended targets, means that any vessel is truly at risk of collateral damage at any time when passing through Houthi-controlled areas near the southern Red Sea. It means being exposed to.”
Mr Cooper said there was “no sign” that the Houthis' “irresponsible behavior” was abating, despite fresh warnings from the US and its allies on Thursday.United Nations Security Council held An emergency meeting on the Red Sea crisis was held on Thursday, but no firm action was taken.
Cooper said Friday's attack was the first attack by the Houthis on an unmanned surface vessel (USV) since Iranian-backed militants began harassing commercial ships in support of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. He said it was a deployment. Other Houthi attacks since October have used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ballistic missiles, and mounted troops.
The Houthis have a history of using remotely controlled boats packed with explosives to attack ports and ships.
For example, in April 2021, Yemeni rebels remotely steered A boat loaded with explosives heads to the Saudi Arabian port of Yanbu. Although the Saudi military claimed that “the booby-trapped ship was handled and destroyed in accordance with the rules of engagement,” some observers believed it could have caused damage to commercial ships in the event of an explosion.
In 2017, the Houthis targeted A Saudi frigate sailing through the Red Sea in what Saudi Arabia called a “suicide ship.” The Houthis claimed to have used surface-launched anti-ship missiles.
military analyst To tell The Houthis have equipped their USVs with components provided by Iranian customers, including electronic guidance systems.
Maritime drones launched within hours of US and allied governments caveat The Houthis called for an end to “illegal, unacceptable and highly destabilizing” attacks on shipping. The statement said the Houthis “will bear the consequences if they continue to threaten human lives, the global economy, and the freedom of commerce in the region's vital waterways.”
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the military would not be involved in any military action in response to Thursday's USV attack.
“I want to let this statement speak for itself. It also speaks on behalf of many countries around the world and emphasizes that there will be consequences if these attacks do not stop,” he said Thursday. said, referring to the joint statement. Operation Prosperity Guardian Security Initiative.
Danish shipping giant Maersk dealt a major blow to the credibility of Operation Prosperity Guardian on Friday. announcement All ships will be kept out of the Red Sea “for the time being” and instead set on a 10-day long route around the Cape of Good Hope.
“The situation is constantly evolving and remains highly volatile, and all available information at hand confirms that the security risks remain at a significantly high level,” Maersk said. Stated.
“While we continue to look forward to a sustainable solution in the near future and are fully committed to achieving it, we wish to remind our customers that the complex situation in the region will persist and that there will be significant disruption to global networks. We advise you to prepare for disruption,” the company warned.
On the other hand, Liberian-flagged commercial ships MV lyla norfolk It was hijacked by pirates on Friday about 300 nautical miles east of Somalia.
UK Maritime Trading Operations (UKMTO) Said The ship was transiting southeast of Eir, Somalia, on its way to Bahrain when “five to six unauthorized armed men” boarded the ship.
According to UKMTO, MV staff lyla norfolk “Fortified” means that they were hiding from pirates in a fortified area. As a result, other vessels in the area were warned that the hijacked vessel may not be able to navigate properly.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has steadily worsened since long-running terrorist insurgency al-Shabaab struck a deal with the pirate group, reportedly offering protection in exchange for a cut in profits. That's what it means.
MV staff lyla norfolk reportedly Because there were 15 Indians involved, the Indian Navy sent aircraft and the warship INS to monitor the ship's progress. chennai dispatched to provide assistance.
Late Friday morning, the Indian Navy Said of chennai Marine special forces were able to get on board and rescue all 21 crew members. The Navy said the attempt to hijack the ship was apparently aborted. chennai It helps ships “begin their voyage to their next port of call.”
On Friday afternoon, the Indian Navy Said The unit was conducting a “disinfection” operation. lyla norfolk However, no pirates were found to be disinfected.
“The hijacking attempt by pirates would likely have been aborted by strong warnings of interception by Indian Navy warships by Indian Navy patrol aircraft,” an Indian Navy statement said.
Two weeks ago, the Indian Navy answered A distress call from the Maltese-registered ship MV in the Arabian Sea Luen. like below lyla norfolk of Luan A group of six armed men attacked.indian navy Negotiated With the pirates who shot the MV Luan The crew was able to evacuate a crew member who was injured by a gunshot wound to the shoulder area.
indian navy Said last week, Luan Hijacking and separate incident, drone attack on chemical oil tanker MV chemistry pluto, It suggested that “changes in maritime accidents are approaching India's EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”
“The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of commercial shipping in the region,” the statement said.
