Recently, Yemen's Houthis claimed their biggest success since the blockade of the Red Sea. According to them, on February 18, they managed to sink a British freighter, seriously injure two American freighters, and shoot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
This news has attracted attention and discussion from all sides. Although at first there were doubts about the Houthis' successes, the American side quickly confirmed the authenticity of the incident. The New York Times and the BBC have reported that this is the worst and most devastating attack by the Houthis since the war began.
Specifically, the Houthis fired two anti-ship missiles at the British freighter Rubimar, one of which hit and caused significant damage, rendering the vessel uncontrollable. The Houthis did not attack the ship's personnel, but allowed them to abandon the ship safely. Subsequently, the British sent escort ships to the rescue, ensuring the safety of all personnel. However, the two American freighters, "Champion of the Seas" and "Navis Fortuna", were not so lucky, they were hit by Houthi missiles, and although they did not hit directly, they still caused a certain amount of damage.
The U.S. side sent an MQ-9 Reaper drone to the waters near Hodeidah, Yemen, on the 19th. However, the drone was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile by the Houthis during its mission. Although the United States insists that the drone is used for reconnaissance, in fact, the MQ-9 Reaper is one of the main unmanned attack platforms in the United States, capable of delivering air strikes.
The Houthis' chief negotiator and spokesman, Abdul Salam, and the chairman of the "Supreme Political Council", Mehdi al-Mushat, once again stressed that they were targeting the ships that served Israel and accused Israel of genocide.
The attack further heightened tensions in the Red Sea region, with many merchant ships changing course and sailing through other seas. According to statistics, the number of ships sailing in the Red Sea has been reduced by more than 50%, and the cost of war insurance is rising.
The attack demonstrated the Houthis' ability to blockade the Red Sea and attack ships passing through it. Although the anti-ship missiles they use are a patchwork of expired and scrap parts, they are still quite a deterrent. Merchant shipowners paid a heavy price for this, and the situation in the Red Sea region became even more critical.
The United States has not yet taken any action to address the situation, in part because of the multiple crises that the United States is facing internally. Even if the United States makes a move, it will choose the time that is most beneficial to itself. In the current situation, it is not yet time to make a move.
The situation in the Red Sea region is worrying, and it remains to be seen what the future will bring.