US: "US Warship Hit off Honghae"... Yemen Rebels Claim Attack on Israeli Vessel

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 3rd (local time) that a U.S. Navy warship and several merchant vessels were attacked in the Red Sea.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The U.S. Department of Defense told the AP News on the same day, "We are aware of reports that the U.S. destroyer USS Carney and several merchant vessels were attacked in the Red Sea," adding, "We will provide relevant information as it becomes available."

An anonymous U.S. official told AP News, "The attack began around 10 a.m. on the 3rd and lasted for about five hours." Another official explained, "The USS Carney was attacked and shot down at least one drone."

On the same day, Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked two vessels in the Red Sea, but announced that the ships were related to Israel, causing confusion over whether the targets were the same.

They claimed the targets of the attack were the vessels 'United Explorer' and 'Number Nine,' stating that these ships ignored their warnings, which led to the attack. The United Explorer is a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier, and Number Nine is a Panama-flagged container ship.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sari did not mention whether the attack was related to the U.S. Navy warship but emphasized, "As long as Israel's war against Hamas continues, attacks on Israeli vessels will also continue."

If the vessels attacked by the Houthis include U.S. warships, it could signal a shift in U.S. Middle East policy, which has so far avoided direct military involvement in the Yemeni civil war. This could increase the possibility of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading to major trade routes such as the Red Sea and the Gulf region. The last time the Houthis attacked a U.S. warship was in 2016.

Iran-aligned Houthis have opposed Israel's campaign to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip and have intervened in the war. The Houthi rebels have launched multiple missile and drone attacks targeting southeastern Israel and have seized or attacked Israeli-related vessels passing through the Red Sea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.