The US Navy reports a new Houthi attack in the Red Sea – 14 drones have been intercepted. Several major shipping companies announced they would avoid the crucial Suez Canal following recent incidents.
The US Navy destroyer “USS Carney” shot down several drones in the Red Sea that, according to American sources, were launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi militias. The responsible regional command of the US military announced that it had intercepted 14 drones over the Red Sea in the morning. There were no injuries or damage.
Great Britain also reported the downing of a drone. British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed a drone.
The Shiite Houthi militias in Yemen recently declared that ships of all nationalities on their way to Israel were legitimate targets for them – until the Gaza Strip received the food and medicine it needed. On Friday, the container ship “Al Jasrah” was shot at and damaged in the strait between Yemen and Djibouti. According to the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, the crew members remained uninjured.
Shipping companies avoid the Suez Canal
However, as a result of the incident, several large shipping companies announced that they would avoid the Suez Canal in the future. This is located in the north of the Red Sea and is crucial for transport between Europe and Asia. The shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd do not want to sail any ships through the Suez Canal for the time being. The world’s largest container shipping company MSC and the French shipping company CMA CGM also announced that they would no longer sail the route for the time being. Some ships would instead take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, MSC said.
Deployment of the German Navy required
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, called for the German Navy to participate in a multilateral operation for free maritime traffic. “We should support the navy protecting the ships together with international partners,” said the FDP politician. It is “consequent that everyone who depends on their goods being transported through the Red Sea should take part.”
The federal government announced that it was examining a request from the USA for the German Navy to participate in an operation.
The Houthis have a large arsenal of weapons
The Iran-backed Houthis have a large arsenal of drones, anti-ship missiles and ballistic missiles – despite international efforts to prevent arms deliveries from Iran. The Houthis use the weapons to attack commercial shipping, but also to directly fire on Israel. According to US information, missiles from US warships heading towards Israel have been destroyed several times in the past few weeks.
Dietrich Lehmann, NDR, tagesschau, December 16, 2023 9:25 a.m