Attacks On 3 Commercial Ships: What We Know
On December 3, 2023, three commercial ships were attacked by missiles and drones in the Red Sea, near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait that connects the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. The ships were identified as Unity Explorer, a UK-owned and operated cargo ship, Number 9, a Singapore-flagged oil tanker, and AOM Sophie II, a French-owned chemical tanker. All three ships were reportedly damaged but not sunk, and no casualties were reported among the crew members.
The attacks were claimed by the Houthi rebels, a Shia Islamist political and military group that controls most of northern Yemen and has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The Houthis said they targeted the ships because they were linked to Israel, which has been at war with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas since October 7, 2023. The Israeli military denied any connection to the ships and accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with weapons and technology.
The attacks on the commercial ships were not the only incidents that occurred in the Red Sea on December 3. The US Navy said that one of its warships, the USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, was also attacked by three drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen. The USS Carney shot down all three drones using its SeaRAM close-in weapon system, and no damage or injuries were reported. The US Navy condemned the attack as a “dangerous and provocative act” that threatened the freedom of navigation and international commerce in the region.
USS Carney & the Bab el-Mandeb Shootout
The USS Carney is the 14th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy, commissioned in 1996 and homeported in Mayport, Florida. The ship is named after Admiral Robert Carney, who served as the Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration. The USS Carney is equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors, including a 5-inch gun, a 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, a SeaRAM CIWS, two Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, 90 vertical launch cells for Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-2 and SM-3 surface-to-air missiles, and ASROC anti-submarine rockets. The ship also carries a Sikorsky MH-60R helicopter for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
The USS Carney is part of the US 5th Fleet, which operates in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. The ship has been involved in several operations and exercises in the region, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation Sentinel. The ship has also participated in maritime security and counter-piracy missions, as well as multinational naval exercises with allies and partners.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait is a narrow waterway that separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea, and connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The strait is about 20 miles wide and is divided into two channels by Perim Island. The strait is of great strategic and economic importance, as it is a vital chokepoint for the global oil trade and a transit route for millions of barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products every day. The strait is also a hotspot for regional conflicts and tensions, as it is bordered by countries that are involved in civil wars, proxy wars, and rivalries. The strait has witnessed several attacks and incidents in recent years, including missile and drone strikes by the Houthis, pirate attacks, and naval clashes.
The attacks on the commercial ships and the USS Carney in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on December 3, 2023, have raised concerns about the security and stability of the region, as well as the potential impact on the global oil market and the supply chain. The US and its allies have condemned the attacks and blamed Iran for supporting the Houthis and destabilizing the region. The US has also said that it is in talks with its allies about “appropriate responses” to the attacks and that it will continue to protect its interests and partners in the region. The Houthis, meanwhile, have vowed to continue their attacks on Israel and its allies, and have warned that they have more surprises in store.
