Iran, via their terrorist attack force known as the Houthi, are attacking shipping up and down the seas. The only way to stop these attacks is for President Trump to get back into office, and stop Iran from making the billions of dollars that Biden has allowed and even helped them to make.
A recent incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden when a commercial ship encountered explosions nearby, an event that authorities are attributing to likely attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, targeting this critical maritime corridor. This incident is part of a larger pattern of aggression following the sinking of the Tutor ship earlier in the week, an act that marks a significant escalation in the Iranian-backed Houthis’ campaign amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Breaking News: An Israeli ship is on fire now in the Gulf of Aden. #GulfOfAden #BreakingNews 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/DurpVt2Tdq
— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) June 21, 2024
In response to these escalating threats, the U.S. has been actively involved, with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, an aircraft carrier, having been central to America’s military presence in the region. However, reports indicate that the Eisenhower is set to return to the United States after an extended deployment period.
Details from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reveal that the ship’s captain witnessed explosions close to his vessel late Friday, though the crew remained unharmed and the ship continued on its planned course without specifying any damage.
● We strongly condemn the Houthi militia’s launching of “Iranian-made” ballistic and winged missiles in terrorist attacks on commercial ships and oil tankers in the international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, from the residential… pic.twitter.com/x3nEUj4HPx
— معمر الإرياني (@ERYANIM) June 19, 2024
The Houthis, who took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have yet to claim responsibility for this latest act of aggression, although they have a history of delayed acknowledgments regarding their attacks. On Friday, the group released footage of a drone boat, named “Tufan,” which they claim was involved in targeting the Tutor.
Since November, the Houthis have executed over 60 targeted attacks, employing missiles and drones, resulting in the deaths of four sailors, and the seizure and sinking of several vessels. The U.S. has countered these provocations with airstrikes targeting Houthi positions since January, intensifying in May with strikes that reportedly killed 16 individuals and injured 42, according to the rebels.
A notable incident in March involved the Belize-flagged Rubymar, which sank in the Red Sea after a rebel attack left it critically damaged. Despite claims from the Houthis that their attacks focus on vessels connected to Israel, the U.S., or Britain, many targeted ships appear to have little direct involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
⚡ Extraordinary footage has emerged of an unmanned boat attack from Yemen on the cargo ship Tutor in the Gulf of Aden on June 12. pic.twitter.com/VTBCcCxqtg
— SHADI (@shadi_qh) June 17, 2024
Meanwhile, in the context of broader U.S. military strategy, the U.S. Naval Institute’s news service, citing an anonymous official, reported that the Eisenhower would be replaced by another carrier in the Pacific as it returns to its home base in Norfolk, Virginia, following a deployment described as the most intense naval combat involvement since World War II. Concurrently, the USS Theodore Roosevelt is currently stationed in Busan, South Korea, a strategic move amid growing tensions with North Korea.
Major Points
- A commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden was near explosions likely caused by Houthi rebels, marking a recent escalation in their maritime attacks.
- The incident follows the sinking of the Tutor, another ship targeted earlier in the week, amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
- The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, involved in responding to these threats, has been ordered to return to the U.S. after an extended deployment.
- The Houthis have launched over 60 attacks targeting shipping since November, including missile and drone strikes.
- Despite claims of targeting nations involved in the Gaza conflict, many attacked vessels have little to no connection to it.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
