The French military reported that a French warship and fighter jets destroyed four combat drones heading towards a European maritime mission in the Gulf of Aden. The action directly contributed to protecting the Barbados-flagged cargo ship “True Confidence,” which had been attacked on March 6 and was being towed, as well as other commercial ships passing through the region.
This announcement followed a statement by the US military that, along with allied forces, it had downed 15 attack drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen towards the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Shortly after the US announcement, a Houthi military spokesperson claimed responsibility for targeting the American ship “Propel Fortune” in the Gulf of Aden with several missiles and conducting another operation targeting US warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with 37 drones.
Ship tracking websites indicate that the “Propel Fortune” sails under the Singapore flag, although its current location was not reported. This attack is among the largest conducted by the Houthis since they began targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea in November, suspected of being linked to Israel or heading to its ports, in support of Gaza amidst the conflict between Hamas and Israel since October 7.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the Houthi attack as “widespread” and occurring just before dawn, posing an imminent threat to commercial and naval ships, including those of the US and its allies in the region.
The United States has established a 10-nation coalition aimed at countering Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. This multinational security initiative includes countries such as Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The coalition is a response to the increased drone and missile attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis on vessels in key shipping lanes, which have prompted at least a dozen shipping lines to halt operations in the area. These attacks have raised concerns about the safety of commercial and military shipping, highlighting the need for collective action to ensure freedom of navigation and the security of key maritime routes.
The increased Houthi attacks have led to heightened maritime security measures, with American and British warships shooting down multiple drones launched by the group. The situation has escalated to the point where major shipping companies, including the world’s biggest shipping firm, Maersk, have paused their journeys through the Red Sea, significantly impacting global trade. The attacks have also led to a substantial increase in insurance premiums for ships passing through the Suez Canal, further complicating the economic implications of the crisis.
