In a recent escalation of the Red Sea conflict, the U.S.S. Laboon, a U.S. Navy destroyer, successfully defended itself against an assault by Houthi rebels based in Yemen
This development comes amidst a surge in attacks by the Iranian-supported Houthi faction on tankers and other vessels operating in the region.
The confrontation occurred as the U.S.S. Laboon was carrying out patrols in the southern Red Sea, as part of a multinational security initiative established in response to Houthi aggression against vessels traversing the trade routes.
According to U.S. Central Command, the Navy destroyer Laboon intercepted and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles on Saturday in the Red Sea. U.S. officials have attributed these drones to the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.
This incident marks the latest in a series of encounters where U.S. warships in the Middle East have intercepted drones and missiles. It comes exactly one week after the Navy destroyer Carney neutralized 14 attack drones in the Red Sea.
U.S. Central Command reported that the Laboon shot down the drones, which were heading towards the destroyer, during a patrol in the Southern Red Sea. This patrol was part of a multinational security initiative aimed at protecting commercial ships. The incident resulted in no injuries or damage.
This event is part of a broader trend of increased maritime security measures in response to a rise in drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants. During the same incident, the rebels targeted another tanker with a drone.
However, another Houthi drone did reach its intended target. U.S. officials reported that the M/V SAIBABA, a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, was hit by the Houthi unmanned craft. The attack resulted in no injuries.
In a statement, CENTCOM said, "These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since Oct. 17."
This development follows the Defense Department's announcement of the multinational maritime task force tasked with safeguarding ships traveling through the trade routes.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday that the United States, along with several other nations, are forming a maritime task force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, ships allegedly owned by Israeli interests or bound for Israeli ports have been subjected to missile and drone attacks from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The Houthis have attacked at least ten commercial ships, and two ships have been hijacked, one to Yemen and one to Somalia.
In response to this unprecedented series of attacks, Secretary Austin urged participants to join U.S.-led and other international initiatives and collaborate with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) and the 39-member Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to restore security in the Red Sea and deter future Houthi aggression. Secretary Austin highlighted CMF's Task Force 153responsible for international maritime security and capacity-building in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Adenas an existing multilateral platform that could be utilized to deter attacks under the CMF. He emphasized that the international community is confronted with an unprecedented global challenge that requires collective action. The United States will continue to consult and work alongside allies and partners, who share the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation.
The attacks on the Laboon and other commercial vessels highlight an increasingly unstable situation in the region. Several companies, including British Petroleum, have suspended shipments through the Red Sea due to the constant attacks as the Houthis continue to demonstrate their power.
The U.S. and its allies are actively working together to counter the Houthi threat and restore a sense of normalcy in the region. However, with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which partly motivated the Houthis to initiate their attacks, it appears unlikely that the militant group will cease their activities in the near future.
The Biden administration has faced criticism for its perceived failure to adequately address the issue with Iran, which supports the Houthis. The situation remains tense as the task force attempts to thwart attacks originating from the rebels.
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