Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group, said in a televised speech on Thursday that his army is extremely committed to blocking Red Sea shipping traffic in defiance of the United States and its allies. He said it was “effective.”
He promised that the attacks would not only continue, but expand and escalate.
“Operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden continue, are expanding and are being effective,” the Houthi leader said.
View of the oil tanker Merlin Luanda on fire after a Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden on January 27, 2024. (Indian Navy, via AP)
Al Houthi said the expansion includes the use of “submarine” weapons against targets in the Red Sea, which is “worrying for the enemy.”
U.S. Army destroyed The launch came just before the Houthis launched an unmanned submarine (UUV) on Sunday. It was the first underwater drone deployed by the Houthis since they began attacking ships in October, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
A spokesman for the Houthi army, which calls itself Ansar Allah (“Army of God”), said on Thursday: claimed Responsible for attacking a British-owned cargo ship and a US destroyer.
Two Houthi missiles hit Palau-flagged cargo ship MV islanders.that suffered There was some damage, a fire broke out on board, and the crew were injured, but the ship was reportedly able to continue sailing.
Centcom Said American aircraft and allied warships successfully intercepted three Houthi kamikaze drones over the Red Sea on Thursday. US forces also destroyed four Houthi drones and two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles on the ground. There was no damage to the ship in this engagement.
“These measures will protect freedom of navigation and make the high seas safer and more secure for the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels,” Centcom said.
Red Sea Update
At approximately 5:00 p.m. (Sanaa time) on February 22, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces engaged in an attack against four Iranian-backed Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). carried out a self-defense attack. It was ready for launch… pic.twitter.com/CzEHK29Ita
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 23, 2024
Friday, Ansar Allah announced The center set up a Humanitarian Coordination Center and sent notices to shipping and insurance companies warning that all ships with ties to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom would be attacked if they entered the Red Sea.
The notice marks another round of scrutiny for President Joe Biden’s Operation Prosperity Guardian, which was established to reassure shippers and insurers that the Red Sea can be safely navigated under the protection of the U.S. and allied navies. It became. The Houthis attacked six ships this week. One of the targets is the British-owned cargo ship MV. Rubimar Damage was sustained to the point that the crew were forced to abandon ship.
