Why Yemen’s Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea

ALTHOUGH NOTUAV the first of their kind, the missile attacks on three bulk carriers in the Red Sea by on December 3rd marked a sharp rise in the risk to commercial shipping . The , an American Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, shot down several (s) that appeared to be heading in its direction while it was sailing to assist the damaged carriers. Fortunately the attacks caused no injuries and fairly minor damage to the three ships.America’s Central Command said it was considering “appropriate responses” to the attacks, which had been “fully enabled by Iran”. This careful wording reflects the probability that, though the missiles were undoubtedly supplied by Iran and the attacks would have been welcomed by its government, the Houthis may well have been acting off their own bat.