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The United States officially announced the formation of an international naval alliance with the aim of ensuring the security of the Red Sea trade lanes. However, Yemen's Houthis insist they will continue their "military activities" in the Red Sea region. Recently, the Houthis have launched attacks on as many as a dozen merchant ships in an attempt to pressure Israel to halt its air strikes on Gaza. These attacks have forced several global shipping companies to disrupt their services.
The Red Sea, an important shipping route connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, has always been a key crossroads of world trade. However, in recent years, the rise of regional instability has led to increasingly significant security risks in maritime shipping. The presence of the Houthis, in particular, adds additional tension and challenges to the already sensitive Red Sea shipping lanes.
Previously, the Houthis turned a deaf ear to the two aircraft carriers of more than 100,000 tons deployed by the US Navy in the region. They are not afraid to intercept any Israeli cargo ship that dares to cross the Red Sea route. Even when the U.S. warships were in charge of escorting them, the Houthis dared to attack, treating the U.S. aircraft carriers as if they were nothing.
The U.S. military has not suffered such a defeat since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Witnessed by the USS Carney, the Houthis launched an attack on two Israeli cargo ships, one of which sank and the other suffered damage, and the sea was enveloped in black smoke and raging fire. The incident was not just an attack on an Israeli ship, but in fact a direct humiliation of the United States.
The U.S. Navy was tasked with protecting the ships, but in the end they were either hijacked or blown up, raising questions about who had the final say in the Red Sea lanes. The Houthis have dared to be so assertive mainly due to two factors: one is that they control the strategic points in the Red Sea, and the other is that they have strong support from Iran. However, Iran has not taken a clear position.
The U.S. military quickly convened an emergency meeting after receiving the report to conduct an in-depth analysis of the incident. The president said that this provocation would not be tolerated, while emphasizing the role of the US military around the world and its unwavering commitment to allies. The U.S. Secretary of Defense ordered a strengthened naval presence in the Red Sea, while coordinating with Israel and other regional allies to ensure the safety of shipping lanes.
At the same time, this action of the Houthis has attracted widespread attention internationally. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the vicious incident, and many countries condemned the attack on the merchant ship and expressed great concern about freedom of navigation at sea. Although the Iranian side is silent on this matter, the international community still generally suspects that there is an Iranian shadow behind this action.
In the Red Sea region, tensions quickly escalated. The USS Carney destroyer and several other ships have stepped up patrols of the area, while also beginning to use drones for aerial reconnaissance to ensure a quick response to any suspicious activity. The Israeli military has also stepped up its counterattacks, announcing that it will retaliate indiscriminately against any action that poses a threat to its ships.
However, the Houthis have not relented in this regard, and the Houthis are barefoot and not afraid to wear shoes, and they will fight Israeli merchant ships without hesitation at all. The Houthis insist that they will continue to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea as long as Israel's actions in Gaza continue. The Houthis claim that their maritime activities are aimed at supporting Palestinians who have been attacked and blockaded by Israel, and are not intended to be a show of power or military provocation against other countries.
At least 12 major shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM Group and Maersk Line, have decided to disrupt their Red Sea routes due to concerns about the safety of navigation. With British energy giant BP announcing on Monday that it would avoid passing through the area, Merchant Marine managers are actively looking for alternative routes, even if that means longer voyages and increased costs. In addition, they are strengthening security measures for their vessels, including hiring private security companies to provide escort services in case of potential piracy or terrorist attacks.