In the ongoing battle against Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, American and British warships successfully shot down over a dozen drones launched by the Iranian-led group in the Red Sea. These attacks targeted both naval vessels and commercial shipping, prompting major shipping company Maersk to temporarily halt their vessels' journeys through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The U.S. destroyer Carney played a crucial role in intercepting 14 "one-way attack drones," according to the U.S. Central Command. Joining the efforts, the British destroyer HMS Diamond, recently deployed to enhance the protection of commercial shipping in the region, successfully shot down a Houthi drone as well.

The alarming frequency of drone and ballistic missile attacks on both commercial and military shipping has urged the deployment of additional U.S. Navy destroyers. Three more destroyers have joined the Mediterranean Sea over the past week, bolstering the U.S. presence in the region. These ships have joined the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has been operating in the Mediterranean since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Moreover, HMS Diamond and Carney's successful interceptions come in the wake of recent Houthi drone and missile attacks, which have been neutralized by American, French, and British warships. Notably, the USS Mason shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle earlier this month, following an incident where the ship came to the aid of a commercial vessel hit by a cruise missile in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The British Defense Minister, Grant Shapps, emphasized the critical nature of the attacks on commercial ships, stating that they pose a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. In response to the escalating situation, the Biden administration is working on forming an international maritime task force to counter the Houthi attacks. This task force aims to expand the existing coalition of 39 nations, Combined Task Force 153, which focuses on countering piracy and terrorism in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb waterway, and Gulf of Aden.

Harald Solberg, the head of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, expressed grave concern over the attacks, particularly in the Red Sea. Noting the recent attack on the Norwegian product tanker MT Strinda, Solberg called upon all actors in the region to take immediate action to mitigate the threat to civilian shipping in the area.

As the Biden administration strives to respond to the growing Iran-backed attacks on American forces and contain the Israel-Hamas conflict, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to travel to the Middle East next week. This development underscores the urgency to address the escalating tensions in the region and ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea.