Attack on Another Commercial Ship in the Red Sea; Houthis are the Main Accused

A ship belonging to a Norwegian company was attacked on Monday, December 18, in the Red Sea, which according to American officials originated from Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthi group supported by the Islamic Republic. According to Reuters, American officials who wished to remain anonymous stated that the ship was targeted by multiple projectiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. As of the time of this report, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack on this ship. According to the ship's owner, the attack caused minor fire damage, but none of the crew were harmed, although there was slight damage to the ship's hull. The ship was carrying vegetable oils and was en route to Réunion Island in the southwest Indian Ocean. The Houthis have threatened to attack ships linked to Israel in protest against Israel's attacks on Gaza and have warned against movements toward Gaza. However, the executive director of the Norwegian company stated that this ship has no connection to Israel. Hamas militants killed at least 1,200 people in a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and took about 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly. Israel has launched air, sea, and ground attacks on Gaza in a call to eradicate Hamas. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. American officials stated that a U.S. Navy destroyer moved toward the ship after receiving distress signals from it. A British naval official also reported receiving a report of a possible explosion of a ship about 55 kilometers south of the port of Mocha in Taiz province, Yemen. Following recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, two major shipping companies, including two large Italian-Swiss shipping companies and the Danish Maersk, have recently announced they have stopped passing through the Suez Canal and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The MSC, an Italian company based in Switzerland and the largest container shipping line in the world, also stated it would avoid sending its ships through the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, a knowledgeable source told Reuters on Monday that Italy is considering joining a Western maritime coalition to protect ships in the Red Sea. This Italian source, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that Rome has been asked to join this coalition and will make a decision by the end of this week. U.S. military officials amid recent Houthi attacks say they are exploring ways to further protect commercial ships in the Red Sea shipping route. The United States has discussed ways to increase security in the region with members of a multinational naval force responsible for protecting commercial ships in the Red Sea. American officials have stated that discussions have focused on the possibility of escorting commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to the Gulf of Aden, a narrow channel that separates Yemen from the Horn of Africa. The Houthis of Yemen have entered the Israel-Hamas war by attacking ships in these vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles toward Israel, which is over 1,500 kilometers from their base in Sana'a. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, previously stated at a press conference that Washington believes based on evidence and reasons that these attacks, while carried out by the Houthis in Yemen, have been made entirely possible by Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that an American destroyer shot down more than 12 drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in the Red Sea on Saturday. The British government also announced that a British naval vessel shot down a suspicious attacking drone in the Red Sea that was targeting commercial ships. Britain shot down an attacking drone in the skies over the Red Sea. Houthi missile attack in the Red Sea; a Liberian-flagged ship caught fire. Verification | Does the U.S. have the right to defend itself and others against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea? The U.S. is seeking to provide more support for commercial ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. has sanctioned a financial network supporting the Houthis in Yemen. The White House National Security Advisor: The Islamic Republic has made the attacks on ships in the Red Sea possible. The Pentagon: An American destroyer and several commercial ships were attacked in the Red Sea.