There were reports of an attack on a U.S. warship and several commercial vessels in the Red Sea on Sunday.
This could be a significant step up in a string of Middle Eastern maritime assaults connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
After the Associated Press reported on an attack on a U.S. warship in the Red Sea, a Pentagon spokesman told Fox News, “We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available later.”
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The Houthi rebels, which Iran backs, have been launching drones and cruise missiles at the USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class, in recent weeks. The rebels have taken credit for the attack on Sunday.
The US Central Command is anticipated to provide an update shortly (CENTCOM).
According to a U.S. official who spoke to Fox News, the USS Carney shot down at least two Houthi drones that were flying toward it while it was in the southern Red Sea, just north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The action was taken in self-defense. According to the official, the drones were launched from Yemeni areas under Houthi control.
According to the official, the Houthis fired upon multiple commercial vessels, with at least one of them taking damage.
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Speaking to Fox News, a White House representative appeared to minimize the event by stating that the US destroyer was not explicitly attacked in the Red Sea.
It seems that the American ship responded to distress calls from multiple commercial ships in the area after they were fired upon.
The US official also informed Fox News that the USS Carney was not damaged or injured. Although the officials did not know the precise distance the drones were when the USS Carney shot them down, they stated that the US destroyer “did not let them come too close.”
According to the official, none of the crew members on the commercial vessels, representing multiple nations, have been injured. This means that although the ships are owned and flagged by one country, the crews are from another.
It is reported that the attacks against the commercial vessels took place over a few hours on Sunday.
The USS Carney shot down at least two Houthi drones on Sunday over the Red Sea, a U.S. defense official told Fox News.
Related: Pentagon claims that US warships and commercial ships are being attacked in the Red Sea.
The official stated, “Houthi missiles struck some commercial ships in the Red Sea.” “The Carney has been lending assistance and has shot down at least two UAVs headed in its direction.”
Before, the British military said, without providing further details, that there may have been a drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea.
Prior to this, the Pentagon did not say where it thought the fire originated. The first vessel was struck by a missile, and the second was struck by a drone, according to Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, who claimed responsibility for the attacks. The vessels were in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. He claimed that before the attack, Houthi officials had issued warnings to the ships, which they had disregarded.
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According to the AP, Saree did not mention any American warship taking part in the assault.
