Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Two suspected attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted ships in the Red Sea on Monday, as a new U.S. aircraft carrier moved closer to the region to provide security for the key international trade route. The attacks have been ongoing since the Israel-Hamas war erupted nine months ago.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, the captain of the first targeted ship reported being attacked by three small vessels off the coast of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. Two of the vessels were crewed, while another was uncrewed. The attack involved the unmanned small craft colliding with the ship twice, while the manned small craft fired at the vessel. However, the ship successfully conducted self-protection measures, leading to the small craft aborting the attack after 15 minutes. Subsequently, the captain reported two separate waves of missile attacks, approximately 45 minutes apart, which exploded near the vessel.

In a separate incident in the same area, a vessel reported being attacked by a suspected uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle. The attack caused some damage and light smoke on the vessel's port side. Thankfully, both ships and all crew members are reported safe, as stated by the UKMTO in a warning to mariners. However, the names and flags of the ships involved have not been immediately revealed.

The U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday that its forces had destroyed two uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicles and an uncrewed surface vessel in the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels have targeted over 70 vessels since November, using missiles and drones in their campaign. This has resulted in the death of four sailors, with one vessel seized and two sunk.

The Joint Maritime Information Center, overseen by the U.S. Navy, reported that there has been a significant increase in Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in June, reaching levels not seen since December. The Houthis claim that their attacks primarily target ships with ties to Israel, the United States, or Britain, in support of their alliance with Hamas. However, many of the attacked ships have little to no connection to the ongoing conflict, including vessels bound for Iran, which supports the Houthis.

Last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching missiles at a U.S.-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, identified as the Maersk Sentosa, belonged to Danish shipping company Maersk. This marked the rebels' longest-range attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel near the Arabian Sea.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is now approaching the Middle East to replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which has been present in the Red Sea for a considerable period to counter the Houthi threat. The aim is to provide enhanced security for the troubled region.

While the Houthis have not commented on these recent incidents, it is worth noting that their acknowledgment of carrying out attacks can take hours or even days. These continuous acts of aggression highlight the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict threatening the stability of the Red Sea trade route.