US Warship Shoots Down Drones in Red Sea In Response to Distress Signals From Merchant Ships

Amid a recent spate of missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants operating out of Yemen, the United States is contemplating strengthening security measures for commercial ships navigating a critical Red Sea shipping route. Military officials are engaged in discussions with the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational naval task force responsible for safeguarding Red Sea shipping. The focus of these discussions is centered on the possibility of providing escorts for ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait into the Gulf of Aden, a narrow passage separating Yemen from the Horn of Africa.

Concerns have escalated due to Houthi interference in this vital channel, through which millions of barrels of oil pass daily. While historical precedence exists for escort protection, such as Operation Earnest Will during the 1980s “Tanker War,” senior defense officials are cautious about striking the Houthis in Yemen to avoid further escalation, citing a lack of evidence linking recent missile attacks to specific US assets.

Recent incidents involving the USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Carney (DDG-64) add to these concerns. USS Mason successfully shot down an uncrewed aerial vehicle originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in the southern Red Sea on December 6. This follows USS Carney’s downing of three drones launched from Yemen just days prior. Both of these vessels are part of the U.S. naval forces stationed in response to the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7.

It is worth noting that initial attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Straits of Hormuz targeted Israeli-linked ships, but recent incidents including the drone strike on the OOCL chartered containership Number 9, had no current Israeli links.

Additionally, as of December 4th, approximately 12 containerships had diverted from transiting the Suez Canal, opting for the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope. Another six ships were expected to follow suit. Among these vessels are various sizes, ranging from 4,250 TEU to 19,000 TEU.

Both Maersk and ZIM have publicly announced that they are diverting some of their vessels away from the region, reflecting the growing concern within the shipping industry regarding the security of the Red Sea route. While discussions on enhancing security measures continue, there are currently no plans to reflag vessels, as was done during the Tanker War in the 1980s when US navy ships escorted foreign-flagged civilian vessels. The situation remains dynamic, with the US retaining the right to respond as deemed necessary.