The USS Carney, a vital component of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, found itself at the center of a tense encounter in the southern Red Sea on Sunday.
According to a US defense official, the vessel successfully thwarted at least three Houthi drones headed its way and responded to a distress call from a civilian commercial vessel targeted by a
ballistic missile.
The incident unfolded as part of a larger series of attacks orchestrated by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting multiple commercial vessels.
One such attack, around 9:15 am local time, saw the Carney detecting and intercepting an anti-ship ballistic missile aimed at the M/V Unity Explorer, a Bahamas-flagged bulk cargo ship.
Shortly after noon, the Carney intercepted another Houthi drone in the Red Sea, reportedly en route towards the ship, emphasizing the uncertain nature of the targets. Simultaneously, the Unity Explorer sustained damage from a missile fired by Houthi-controlled areas.
Carney Assists Sophie II in Distress
The Carney responded to a distress call from another vessel, the M/V Sophie II, also hit by a missile. While en route to assist, the Carney neutralized yet another incoming UAV. Fortunately, Sophie II reported no significant damage.
US Central Command condemned these attacks as direct threats to international maritime security, highlighting the risks posed to crews of various nationalities.
The Command attributed these assaults to Houthis in Yemen, asserting likely Iranian involvement, and pledged to coordinate appropriate responses with global allies.
In a counter-narrative, the Houthi-run Yemeni Armed Forces claimed responsibility for targeting what they termed as Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The Yemeni statement accused the vessels of disregarding warnings and indicated a goal to impede Israeli navigation in the Red and Arab seas until alleged Israeli aggression against Gaza ceases.
This escalating situation poses significant challenges to maritime security in the region, with both sides presenting divergent narratives about the sequence of events and the intended targets of the attacks.
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