In a series of attacks on Monday, Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea, while a new U.S. aircraft carrier was nearing the region to ensure security for the vital international trade route. The attacks took place off the coast of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, and involved both crewed and uncrewed vessels, according to British and American authorities.

The first attack occurred on the Panama-flagged and Israeli-owned MT Bently I. Three small Houthi vessels, including one uncrewed craft, collided with the ship twice, while two manned crafts fired at it. The vessel successfully implemented self-protection measures, causing the attackers to abort the assault. The ship then reported waves of missile attacks that detonated near its vicinity.

In a separate incident later the same day, the MT Chios Lion, an oil tanker flying the Liberian flag and owned by the Marshall Islands, was attacked by an uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle. The vehicle impacted the port side of the ship, causing some damage and light smoke. However, both vessels and their crews were reported safe, according to a warning issued by the UK Maritime Trade Operations center.

Subsequently, the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Bently I and Chios Lion. The U.S. Central Command later confirmed these attacks and released the names and flags of the ships targeted.

Expressing concern over the situation, the Central Command stated, "This continued reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden." The Command further emphasized that while the Houthis claim to be acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza, they are jeopardizing the lives of individuals from other countries who have no involvement in the conflict.

Additionally, the Central Command reported that five uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicles were destroyed by U.S. forces on Monday. Three were neutralized over the Red Sea, while the remaining two were intercepted in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier, is en route to the Middle East to replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which had been stationed in the Red Sea for several months to counter the Houthi threat. Since November, the rebels have carried out over 70 attacks on various vessels using missiles and drones, resulting in the deaths of four sailors. They have also captured one ship and sunk two others.

The frequency of Houthi attacks on merchant vessels has been on the rise, reaching levels not seen since December, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. Led by the U.S. Navy, the coalition overseeing maritime security has reported the increase as a concerning development.

The Houthi rebels claim that their attacks primarily target ships associated with Israel, the United States, or Britain, as part of their support for Hamas in the ongoing conflict with Israel. However, many of the vessels attacked have little to no connection to the war, including those bound for Iran, which supports the Houthi rebels.

Last week, the rebels launched missiles at the Maersk Sentosa, a U.S.-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Aden. This marked the furthest-range attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel near the Arabian Sea by the Houthi rebels. The incident was confirmed by the Danish shipping firm Maersk, the largest global shipping company.

As tensions continue to escalate in the region, concern grows for the safety of seafarers navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The international community and naval forces remain vigilant in their efforts to ensure the security of this vital trade route.