A U.S.-led coalition of about a dozen countries warned the Houthi rebel group in Yemen on Jan. 3 to immediately end attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, as the Middle East remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A joint statement, signed by the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Bahrain, Denmark, and Netherlands, said that recent activity in the Red Sea targeting shipping vessels will lead to consequences against the organization, which the U.S. State Department removed from its list of designated terrorist groups in 2021.
“Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing. There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels,” the warning said. “Attacks on vessels, including commercial vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”
The statement calls for an “immediate end” to the attacks or the Houthis would face the “consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”
Cargo Ship Attacked
Several days ago, a U.S. Navy helicopter opened fire on Houthi rebels, who are believed to be backed by Iran, after they attacked a cargo ship, the Maersk Hangzhou, in the Red Sea, according to the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military forces in the Middle East.“The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense,” sinking three of the four boats and killing the people on board while the fourth boat fled the area, U.S. Central Command said. The Houthis acknowledged that 10 of their fighters were killed in the confrontation and warned of consequences.
In response to the recent spate of Red Sea attacks, multiple international shipping companies have announced they would suspend transit through the Red Sea. The events surrounding the Maersk Hangzhou represented the 23rd attack by the Houthis on international shipping since Nov. 19, Central Command said. It was the first time the U.S. Navy said its personnel had killed Houthi fighters since the Red Sea attacks started.
Since the Pentagon announced Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter the attacks in December, 1,200 merchant ships have traveled through the Red Sea region, and none had been hit by drone or missile strikes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper told The Associated Press in an interview on Dec. 30, 2023.
Bombing in Iran
A former NATO chief, James Stavridis, wrote in Bloomberg on Jan. 3 that the United States and the coalition forces should “hit the Houthis” as well as Iran “where it counts.”“These Houthi pirates are trained, equipped, organized, and directed by Iran,” he said. “Unlike the Somali pirates of a decade ago, with their rusty AK-47s, flip-flops, and small speedboats, these Houthis have modern helicopters, SEAL-like armament and skills, ground-based missiles, and are clearly operating with significant intelligence support in finding and fixing their targets.”
The warnings come as Iranian officials said two bombs exploded and killed at least 100 people on Jan. 3 at a commemoration for Qassem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian general who was killed by the United States in a 2020 drone strike, Iranian officials said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for what appeared to be the deadliest terrorist attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran’s leaders vowed to punish those responsible for the blasts, which wounded at least 211 people.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attackers will face “a harsh response,” although he didn’t name any possible suspect.
“Undoubtedly, the perpetrators and leaders of this cowardly act will soon be identified and punished,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi added.
Officials with the United States and Israel on Jan. 3 denied that Israel was responsible for the attacks.
Earlier this week, Iran confirmed that it moved one of its warships to the Red Sea, according to Iranian state media outlet Islamic Republic News Agency. It did not elaborate on what the ship, a destroyer, would be doing in the sea.
