The attacks of the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden continue unabated as evidenced by the recent reports of the US Armed Forces.
Houthis First Use Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Against US Warships in Red Sea
Specifically, according to a very reputable American International Media, "US forces carried out five self-defense operations in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis on Saturday, including one against an unmanned submarine, the US Central Command announced on Sunday." pointing out:
"Saturday's incident marked the first observed Houthi use of an unmanned submarine since attacks began in the Red Sea region in October, CENTCOM said.
On Saturday between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time, US forces in the region also carried out self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missile systems and an unmanned submarine
CENTCOM "determined that they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the area," the military said in a news release. "These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for the US Navy and merchant ships."
The Houthis have launched a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles against ships in recent months, targeting dozens of ships and disrupting a critical international shipping lane. When they launched their attacks, the Houthis said they would only target ships bound for Israel.
On January 11, US and British militaries, along with other allies, launched the first strikes in response to Houthi attacks. Several days later, the US government re-designated the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization as the group stepped up attacks in the Red Sea
Huge cost for shipping - goods - supplies due to Houthi attacks
The Red Sea, regularly used by merchant ships, is the main sea route between Europe and Asia. Many companies now bypass the area for safety reasons.
Shipping giants including CMA CGA, Equinor, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Orient Overseas and ZIM have said they plan to avoid the Red Sea while the violence continues, MoneyWatch previously reported.
Energy company BP said in December it had suspended shipments of natural gas and oil to the region. Ikea previously warned of possible shortages as shipping companies bypass the Red Sea.
US Ambassador Robert Wood addressed the issue at a UN Security Council briefing on Yemen last week, noting that rerouting a ship around Africa adds about 10 days and $1 million in fuel costs each way journey between Asia and Europe.
"The Houthis are trying to implement a barrier to global shipping through the Red Sea," Wood said. "As a result, people around the world face increased costs for goods and supplies."
The underwater unmanned vehicle used by the Houthis "photographs" Iran
To the reasonable question of where the Houthis, who have no defense industry, found the unmanned underwater vehicle they used against US warships in the Red Sea, the answer is one.
From Iran.
This particular attack directly exposes Iran for the second time in just a few days, after it was preceded, as we pointed out in our recent article, "US cyber attack on Iranian spy ship, which gave real-time information to the Houthis", in order to hit commercial ships as well as US warships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The above clearly proves that Iran and Houthi are "Communicating Vessels".
