**The U.S.S. Gravely Destroyer Encounter in the Red Sea**
**Introduction:**
The U.S.S. Gravely destroyer was sighted in the south Red Sea on a particular Tuesday, Feb. 13. Reports from CENTCOM indicated that U.S. forces successfully thwarted five Houthi attacks on the preceding Saturday. The image credit for this encounter goes to Bernat Armangue/AP.
**The U.S. Military’s Response:**
The U.S. military recently engaged an underwater vessel in the Red Sea that was allegedly deployed by Houthi rebels in Yemen. This incident marked the first instance where U.S. forces observed the Iranian-backed rebel group utilizing what the military described as an “unmanned underwater vessel” (UUV) since the onset of attacks in the region on Oct. 23.
**Houthi Rebels’ Activities:**
Houthi rebels have been targeting international commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea in recent months. The group’s leadership claims to target ships associated with Israel in retaliation to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, although many of the vessels targeted have no actual ties to Israel.
**Houthi Rebels’ Background:**
The Houthis, a formidable rebel group supported by Iran, have expressed solidarity with Hamas and have held control over significant parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since the overthrow of the government in 2014. Their tactics have involved firing missiles and deploying drones against commercial vessels in the region, prompting intervention from the U.S. military to repel these attacks, which have also targeted U.S. warships.
**International Response and Impact:**
In response to the escalating situation, the U.S., along with the United Kingdom and other allies, initiated a series of retaliatory strikes against numerous Houthi targets in Yemen. This military action has led to over 2,000 ships altering their routes to avoid transiting the Red Sea, potentially causing delays in global shipping operations.
**Recent U.S. Military Actions:**
U.S. Central Command reported that on a specific Saturday between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sanaa time, they carried out five “self-defense strikes” against the UUV, an unmanned surface vessel, and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. These strikes were deemed necessary as they posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.
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