New information on freight routes/Red Sea
Reprinted from Xinhua News Agency
According to CNN, on December 31, 2023, local time, in response to a merchant ship’s call for help, a US destroyer patrolling the Red Sea dispatched helicopters to destroy three small boats belonging to the Houthi armed forces in Yemen, causing damage to the other party. Casualties. CNN stated that this is the first time the United States has killed Houthi militants in Yemen since regional tensions became tense last year. According to a report by British Sky News on January 1, the United Kingdom is considering launching air strikes against Houthi armed targets after the US Navy sank three Houthi armed boats. Iranian media reported that a destroyer from the country suddenly entered the Red Sea on the 1st. According to Reuters, this will increase tensions in the region.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on January 1 that on the morning of December 31, 2023 local time, the container ship “Maersk Hangzhou” registered in Singapore and owned and operated by the Danish shipping giant Maersk sent a distress signal, saying that it was in the Red Sea. The southern part was attacked by four small boats carried by Houthi armed personnel.
The U.S. Central Command stated that the four armed ships launched the attack less than 20 meters away from the container ship and attempted to board the ship. After receiving a distress signal, the nearby USS “Eisenhower” aircraft carrier and “USS Graveley” destroyer sent multiple helicopters to the scene, but they were shot while issuing warnings to four small boats. The U.S. Central Command emphasized that the above-mentioned helicopters carried out a “self-defense counterattack” and sank three of the ships, causing the death of the other party’s crew. The fourth small boat fled the sea area where the incident occurred.
In this regard, Reuters quoted Houthi armed spokesman Yahya Saraya as saying that because the crew of the “Maersk Hangzhou” refused to heed the warning, the organization launched an attack on it, saying that 10 Houthi armed forces Personnel “died or disappeared” after being attacked by US forces. On December 31, 2023 local time, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on the social platform serious situation.”
After the US military took action against the Houthis, the UK also issued a stern warning. British Defense Secretary Shapps wrote in the “Daily Telegraph” that the UK “will not hesitate to take further action to curb threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.” According to the Daily Telegraph, this includes potential air strikes. On December 31, 2023, British Foreign Secretary Cameron stated that he had spoken with the Iranian Foreign Minister regarding the attacks by the Houthi armed forces, saying that Iran had the responsibility to prevent attacks by the Houthi armed forces.
