Reports from multiple outlets indicate that a US warship and several commercial vessels were targeted in the Red Sea during the day on Sunday, amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East linked to the Gaza conflict.
A Pentagon official cited by ABC News stated that the destroyer Carney engaged hostile air threats, explaining that the ship was moving toward locations controlled by Houthi forces in Yemen and coordinated defensive actions against the threats. The official noted that on at least two occasions the Carney intercepted drones that were traveling toward the ship’s vicinity and posed danger to nearby vessels.
There was a brief acknowledgment from US media that the Pentagon was aware of reports about attacks on the USS Carney and nearby merchant ships in the Red Sea, with plans to share additional details as information became available. The official conveyed to ABC News that a ballistic missile fired by Yemen-based Houthi forces landed near a merchant vessel in the Red Sea, and the Carney was in proximity to respond to the distress call from the affected ship.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The episode represents a notable escalation within a broader pattern of naval actions in the Middle East tied to the broader Gaza conflict and regional instability.
On the same day, the British Navy reported an attack involving unmanned aerial systems near Bab al-Mandeb, in the Red Sea close to the Yemeni coast, and urged ships traversing the area to exercise increased caution as they pass through the strait. The advisory highlighted the ongoing risk environment for maritime traffic in this chokepoint region.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes against cargo vessels passing through pivotal routes in the Red Sea. Specific vessels named in the claim included the Unity Explorer, which bears the Bahamian flag, and Number 9, flagged in Panama. The claims come amid heightened activity and vigilance as global shipping lanes in the region face ongoing security challenges.
In a televised address, a Houthi military spokesperson named Yahya Sarea stated that the group had conducted operations against two Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, reiterating that the Unity Explorer and Number 9 were involved in the described actions. The statements underscore the persistent risk to international maritime traffic in this corridor as regional hostilities intersect with broader geopolitical fault lines.