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Israel and Egypt have also intercepted attacks by the Yemeni group in recent hours as fears grow that the war in Gaza will continue to expand regionally

US shoots down several Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea

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PHOTO / AFP - Un petrolero amenaza con explotar o derramar más de un millón de barriles de petróleo en el Mar Rojo
At least two more ships have been attacked by drones and missiles launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea - PHOTO / AFP
Margarita Arredondas
27/12/23

The creation of a US-led international coalition to protect trade in the Red Sea does not seem to be intimidating the Houthis, who continue to threaten ships transiting the area. At least two more ships have been attacked by drones and missiles launched by Yemeni rebels backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent hours, one of them north of the port of Al Hudeida, according to the British Royal Navy.  

  1. Israel assassinates senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer in Syria 
  2. The war is expanding on 'multiple fronts'
  3. Hamas rejects a permanent ceasefire in order not to relinquish its power in Gaza

The Houthis have confirmed one of the attacks, against the commercial vessel MSC United, was carried out with "appropriate naval missiles". "The attack on the ship came after its crew rejected calls from the (Houthi) navy for the third time, as well as repeated fire warning messages," the group's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said on Al Masirah TV.

US naval forces, meanwhile, have managed to shoot down several drones and missiles launched by the Houthis against targets in the Red Sea, as announced by the US Central Command. 

US forces in the area, which include USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down 12 one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land-attack cruise missiles in the Red Sea, CENTCOM explains on social media. "There was no damage to ships in the area and no injuries were reported," it adds in the statement, which also blames the Houthis for the attacks.

In addition to US naval forces, Egyptian air defence systems have also shot down a drone near the Red Sea town of Dahab. Earlier this month, Egypt intercepted another drone in the same area, one of the country's main tourist hotspots. Also in late October, two Houthi drones struck Taba and Nuweiba, injuring at least six people. 

These attacks on Egyptian territory were probably aimed at the Israeli city of Eilat, the Houthis' main target and where they have launched several missiles and drones since the war between Israel and Hamas began. Again in the last few hours, the Israeli army has shot down a "hostile aerial target" bound for the coastal city.

The Houthis have confirmed the attack, calling it "a military operation with several drones against military targets" as part of "continuous support for the Palestinian people in accordance with religious, moral and humanitarian duty". 

Israel assassinates senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer in Syria 

As tension mounts in the Red Sea over hostile Houthi actions, fears are growing that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could expand regionally after an Israeli air strike killed Seyyed Razi Moussavi, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer in Syria.

Tehran has vowed that Israel will "undoubtedly pay for this crime", while Iran-backed Hezbollah has branded Moussavi's killing a "blatant and flagrant violation, which is out of bounds". "Tel Aviv faces a tough countdown," tweeted Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. 

According to official Iranian media, Mousavi was "one of the most senior advisers to the Revolutionary Guards in Syria" and close to former Quds force chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020.

Mousavi was also in charge of coordinating the Iranian-Syrian military alliance and arming Tehran-linked militias such as Hezbollah. 

The war is expanding on 'multiple fronts'

The Lebanese Shi'ite group has been launching attacks against northern Israel since the beginning of the war, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people from the area, as well as Israel's military response. One of Hezbollah's latest attacks hit the St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in Iqrit, wounding an 80-year-old civilian. 

Israel has also accused Hizbollah of launching a missile from near a mosque in Yaroun in southern Lebanon. "This is further evidence of Hezbollah's cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians and holy sites for its terrorist activity," the Israel Defence Forces stresses.

So far, the border clashes have resulted in the deaths of four Israeli civilians, as well as the deaths of nine soldiers. On the other hand, 126 Hezbollah members have been killed by Israel, mostly in Lebanon but some also in Syria. On Lebanese territory, 16 Palestinian terrorists, one Lebanese soldier and at least 17 civilians, three of them journalists, have also been killed, as reported by The Times of Israel.  

The north is just one of the many fronts Israel is fighting on. As Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has pointed out, the war is expanding on "multiple fronts" with attacks from seven points: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq, Yemen and Iran. 

Hamas rejects a permanent ceasefire in order not to relinquish its power in Gaza

Moreover, according to Israel's chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, the war could last "many months". "There are no magic solutions, there are no shortcuts to dismantling a terrorist organisation, only determined and persistent fighting," Halevi said from the Gaza border, where Israel is conducting an air and ground military operation.

The offensive, which began after Hamas killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 on 7 October, has left nearly 21,000 Gazans dead in Gaza, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities.  

Israeli actions in the Palestinian enclave have intensified in recent days, focusing on the centre of the territory. Israel says it is doing all it can to protect civilians, blaming Hamas for using citizens as human shields and launching attacks from public buildings such as hospitals, schools and residential areas.

In this regard, it is worth noting that both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad recently rejected an Egyptian ceasefire proposal. Hamas would have to relinquish control of Gaza in exchange for a permanent truce that would bring an end to the fighting. 

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Iran USA Egypt Gaza Israel United States
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