Britain Downs Suspicious Drone Over the Red Sea

On Saturday, December 16, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced that a naval ship of the country successfully shot down a suspicious drone targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Shapps wrote on social media platform 'X': 'The HMS Diamond successfully destroyed a suspicious drone targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea with a Sea Viper missile.' A U.S. defense official told Reuters on Friday, December 15, that Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. According to this official, a projectile believed to be a drone struck the 'Al-Jasra' ship belonging to a German company, causing a fire but no damage. He added: 'In the second attack, two ballistic missiles were fired, one of which hit a ship and caused a fire that the crew attempted to extinguish.' Meanwhile, Danish company Maersk announced on Friday to Reuters that it would suspend all container shipping operations through the Red Sea until further notice. The company noted that this decision was made following recent Houthi attacks on Maersk vessels in the area. The Iran-backed Houthi group has claimed responsibility for missile attacks on several ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait in recent weeks. The group states that these attacks are in support of the Hamas militant group and will continue as long as the war in Gaza persists. Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, previously stated in a press conference that Washington believes, based on evidence, that while these attacks are carried out by the Houthis in Yemen, they are fully enabled by Iran. Meanwhile, Axios reported on Thursday, December 14, citing two American officials, that the Biden administration has sent messages to the Houthis through Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, warning the group against continuing its attacks. U.S. military officials amid recent Houthi attacks say they are exploring ways to further protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea shipping route. The United States has discussed ways to enhance security in the region with members of a multinational naval force tasked with protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea. American officials have stated that discussions are focused on the possibility of escorting commercial ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Gulf of Aden, a narrow channel separating Yemen from the Horn of Africa. This discussion reflects growing concerns in the region regarding Houthi interference in this vital waterway through which millions of barrels of oil pass daily.