The Houthi rebel movement signaled their intent to press on with attacks in a bid to pressure Israel into a cease-fire with Gaza. The rising tensions add to concerns about Israel's war on Hamas expanding into a regional conflict.
The US Central Command reported that its USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, neutralized 14 suspected one-way attack drones on Saturday.
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In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were
The UK Royal Navy's HMS Diamond joined the effort by deploying a Sea Viper missile, destroying a drone specifically targeting merchant shipping.
Last week, Business Insider's Jake Epstein reported that the maritime service bragged in a video that the USS Carney was 22-0 against the Houthi rebels in contrast to Saturday's Army-Navy football game, which saw the Black Knights defeat the Midshipmen 17-11.
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Following Saturday's successful defense of the Houthi barrage, it now stands at 36-0 — for those keeping scores.
The brewing tensions in the Red Sea threaten global trade, as about 12% of the world's trade business passes through the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Recent attacks on container ships and oil tankers flagged to countries such as Norway and Liberia have raised concerns about the safety of maritime traffic navigating the waters of the major global-trade artery.
The UK's defense secretary, Grant Shapps, said Houthi attacks on commercial ships represented a "direct threat to international commerce and maritime security." Several major shipping companies have responded by pausing their vessels' journeys through the Red Sea, impacting the timely delivery of goods worldwide.
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