As of: February 19, 2024, 10:32 a.m
By: Erkan Pehlivan
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The situation in the Red Sea remains tense.
The US Navy has apparently destroyed an underwater drone belonging to the pro-Iranian Houthi militia for the first time.
Sanaa – The US is continuing its attacks on the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The US Army Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an unmanned surface vessel and an underwater drone were attacked on Saturday.
“This is the first observed use of an underwater drone by the Houthis since attacks began on October 23,” CENTCOM said in a post on X on Sunday.
“These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for U.S. Navy vessels and commercial vessels,” the statement said.
Houthi rebels continue to attack merchant ships
There had previously been reports of a freighter being attacked in the Red Sea, and the militia had also claimed responsibility.
“Naval units of the Yemeni armed forces” fired at the oil tanker “Pollux” with “a large number of sea-based missiles,” Houthi spokesman Jahja Saree said on Saturday.
According to US information, the Panama-flagged ship “MT Pollux” was hit by a missile from Yemen on Friday.
Accordingly, the freighter had loaded crude oil and was on its way to India.
The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has been regularly attacking ships in the Red Sea since the beginning of the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas.
The Houthis see themselves as part of the self-proclaimed “axis of resistance” directed against Israel, which includes Hamas and the Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Since December, warships from an international coalition led by the US have been trying to secure the route along the Yemeni coast, which is important for global trade.
The US Navy has destroyed an underwater drone for the first time in its fight against the Houthi militia.
© IMAGO/Zvonimir Barisin
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea: China should use influence on Iran
On the diplomatic side, attempts are also being made to end the Houthi attacks on international shipping.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on China to use its influence over Iran to dissuade the Houthi militia from attacking ships in the Red Sea.
Cameron met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, the ministry in London announced on Saturday night.
“The foreign minister called on China to use its influence over Iran to pressure the Houthis over their actions in the Red Sea.”
Protection from Houthis: EU before launching naval mission “Aspides”
The EU also wants to make its contribution to securing international shipping in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers of the EU states want to decide this Monday in Brussels to launch the new military operation “Aspides” to secure merchant shipping in the Middle East.
On Friday, the federal government decided on the mandate for the Bundeswehr to participate in the EU mission.
An initial discussion of this in Parliament is planned for Wednesday, with the final vote on Friday.
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Since the beginning of the war in Israel, the Houthi militia in Yemen has repeatedly attacked freighters with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea.
The Houthis belong to the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a network of groups fighting against Israel that are supported by Iran.
China and Russia are considered important strategic partners for Iran.
(erpe/dpa/AFP)