Increased Attacks in Red Sea Could Prompt Change in US National Security Strategy
The Red Sea has seen a significant uptick in attacks in recent days, prompting concern among top U.S. national security officials. The destroyer USS Carney, operating in the Red Sea, shot down 14 one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen early Saturday morning. At the same time, the British destroyer HMS Diamond also shot down a Houthi drone.
The attacks continued on Friday, with a Houthi drone striking the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Al Jasrah in the Red Sea, causing a fire. Additionally, Houthi forces launched two ballistic missiles toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of which struck the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Palatium 3. U.S. warships responded to the attacks at the time.
The impact of the assault has been felt in the commercial market, with Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company, halting all shipping through the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is a crucial passageway for cargo and energy shipments traveling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In response to the heightened tensions, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown are set to travel to the Middle East this week. The Pentagon has also bolstered its presence in the region, moving three additional destroyers into the Mediterranean Sea, joining the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group that has been operating in the Mediterranean since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
With ongoing operations in the region, there is potential for a change in the U.S. national security strategy as officials assess the situation and work to ensure the safety of commercial shipping and international waters.