Pentagon claims that US warships and commercial ships are being attacked in the Red Sea.

According to the Pentagon, US warships and commercial vessels are under attack. The attacks represent a substantial escalation in the Red Sea region.
A US warship and several commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea on Sunday, according to the Pentagon.

This is a significant escalation in a series of marine attacks in the Middle East tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“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,” a Pentagon spokesman told Fox News, confirming an Associated Press claim of a Red Sea attack on a US warship.

The Houthi rebels, who 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 strike on Sunday. The US Central Command is anticipated to provide an update shortly (CENTCOM).
Before, the British military indicated, without providing further details, that there may have been a drone strike and explosions in the Red Sea.

The Pentagon did not say where it thought the fire originated. However, as the Jewish state fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, whom Iran supports, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and firing missiles and drones at Israel.

Speaking to the AP under the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, a US official stated that the strike started in Sanaa, Yemen, at around 10 a.m. and continued for up to five hours. The Houthis did not immediately respond. However, A Houthi military spokesman claimed earlier that an “important” message will be made soon.

Former Obama CIA director and defense secretary Leon Panetta spoke on Saturday night at the Reagan National Defense Forum about how the United States should respond to the growing number of attacks by Iran’s proxy groups against US forces in the Middle East before reports of an attack on a US warship in the Red Sea.

Panetta declared, “I would be much more aggressive.” “I want to go after those who are firing missiles at our troops and make sure they understand that when they fire a missile – they are going to die.”

Since the middle of last month, there have been at least 75 attacks against American forces in the Middle East. Attacks against US warships at sea are not included in this figure by the Pentagon.
Targeting international shipping has grown in importance as the Israel-Hamas conflict looms large in the region.