The Yemen-based Houthis have attempted several attacks over the last day or so in the waterways off its coasts, showing the problem has not gone away despite it disappearing from the headlines.
Over the past day, U.S. forces destroyed one air defense sensor in Yemen, destroyed one uncrewed surface vessel, two patrol boats in the Red Sea, and an uncrewed aerial system, according to U.S. Central Command, which has come to the defense of dozens of commercial vessels the Houthis have targeted.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group continues to lead the military’s efforts in the area after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended the carrier’s deployment last month.
The Houthis, during that time period, launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea, neither of which caused injuries or damage. Later, the M/V Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier, was struck for a second time in 24 hours, by one anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
One mariner on board the Verbena was severely injured and medically evacuated via aircraft from the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) to a partner force ship nearby for medical attention. The crew also had to fight fires aboard the ship from the strikes.
The vessel had most recently docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood construction material.
A day earlier, a Houthi unmanned surface vessel struck the M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated vessel in the Red Sea.
U.S. forces have conducted 51 “self-defense strikes” against the Houthis since November 2023, a U.S. defense official told the Washington Examiner.
The Houthis’ attacks have continued unabated since then, which the group announced it would do in response to Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas. Despite the claim, it has targeted vessels unrelated to Israel or the United States. At least 65 countries have been affected, according to a new Defense Intelligence Agency report released Thursday.
The Houthi missile attacks have damaged 18 commercial vessels from November to March, one ship was hijacked, and they have attempted more than 40 attacks, the report added.
From Nov. 19 to Thursday, the Houthis have attacked or threatened U.S. Navy and commercial vessels 190 times, the defense official explained.
Global commercial shipping companies have been greatly affected by the attacks.
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At least 29 major energy and shipping companies have altered their routes to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and as of mid-February, container shipping through the Red Sea had declined by approximately 90% since December 2023, the DIA found.
Roughly 10% to 15% of international maritime trade typically travels through the Red Sea. Instead, companies are having their vessels sail around the southern tip of Africa instead of navigating through the Red Sea between Africa and the Middle East. The new route is about 11,000 nautical miles longer and adds 1-2 weeks of transit time and approximately $1 million in fuel costs for each voyage.