The US Navy “engaged” four Iranian-backed Houthi gun boats in the Red Sea after they attacked the Maersk Hangzhou and attempted to board the commercial container ship. When Navy helicopters responded to the distress call, the gun boats fired on them. Bad mistake. Three of the gun boats were sunk, killing the crew members, and one boat escaped. Even in this midst of this situation, the Houthis are not likely to stop their attacks. They likely need a bigger bloody nose.
“On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment. US Centcom
Worth noting this is the first time the American DoD has admitted a US warship was the intended target of a Houthi drone/missile attack. They have studiously avoided doing so in previous attacks. https://t.co/uvW4G8yQ23 pic.twitter.com/3uVXCdwLV6
— Patrick Fox (@RealCynicalFox) December 24, 2023
The Houthi gun boats – what is anyone doing about it?
The incident marks the first time that the Navy has “engaged” with Houthi forces directly since October 7. Prior to this, their engagements amounted to shooting down drones and missiles. Will the deaths of Houthi crewmembers be a deterrent? Not likely. Terrorists don’t care.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
The United States attempted to pull together a coalition of different countries to patrol the region, but that plan has fallen flat. Other nations seem reluctant to add ships or personnel to the coalition.
Troubled Waters for U.S.-led Red Sea Task Force as Biden Call Ignored https://t.co/eDppwFGUxQ
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 29, 2023
Australia Dithers over Direct U.S. Request to Join Red Sea Naval Patrols https://t.co/oYYnA5z0fW
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 19, 2023
Twenty nations signed up for the coalition, but the US has only named 12 of them. Saudi Arabia and the UAE basically said no to the idea. The others appear to have decided not to participate. Unfortunately, the Red Sea corridor, along with the Suez Canal is absolutely vital to world oil trade. With many companies deciding to go a longer more convoluted route, the exorbitant costs will be passed on to consumers. And Biden’s “diplomacy” also failed as some of the countries refused to answer his phone call.
“But the Iran-backed militia has escalated attacks on vessels by targeting those they believe are Israel-bound and threatening global maritime trade.
“European governments are very worried that part of their potential electorate will turn against them,” David Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid, told Reuters.
He noted the European public is increasingly wary of being drawn into the conflict even as defense budgets – and capabilities – expand in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.” Breitbart
The world sits on the ragged edge of WWIII. Two of our aircraft carriers and strike groups are in the Middle East to be a “deterrent” to Iran (it’s not working). Meanwhile, China’s Xi Jinping is threatening to take Taiwan by force again, according to a Sunday address (Fox). Russia hit Ukraine hard over the holidays as well.
The Houthi gun boats are just one problem in the world. Can you say, “powder keg?”
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