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The United States and UK have condemned a recent Houthi rebel attack targeting a commercial cargo ship in the Red Sea.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, the Houthi rebels have been targeting commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea and launching missile attacks toward Israel. These actions have severely disrupted global shipping routes and heightened tensions in the already tense region. Since November 2023, the Iran-backed group has targeted over 100 vessels, sinking four and killing many sailors, prompting major shipping companies to reroute vessels around the southern tip of Africa — a detour that significantly increases transit times and costs. The economic impact has been substantial, with global supply chains strained and shipping insurance premiums rising. The Houthis claim they are targeting ships in protest of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Getting into it: According to officials and maritime monitoring agencies, the Houthis launched coordinated attacks on two commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea — the Magic Seas and the Eternity C — killing at least four mariners and leaving others injured or missing. The Eternity C, a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged vessel, was attacked with drones and missiles while en route to the Suez Canal, resulting in significant damage and the eventual sinking of the ship. Just a day earlier, the Magic Seas suffered a similar attack, forcing its 22-member crew to abandon ship before it was destroyed.

The United States quickly condemned the attacks, labeling them acts of terrorism that jeopardize global trade and navigation. In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, “The United States condemns the unprovoked Houthi terror attack on the civilian cargo vessels MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C in the Red Sea, which resulted in the tragic loss of three mariners, with many others injured and the complete loss of the Magic Seas and its cargo.” She added, “These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security. We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks.”

The United Kingdom also condemned the attacks. In a statement, UK Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward said, “The UK strongly condemns the reckless Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. They have led to the tragic loss of life of innocent mariners. They undermine maritime security and global trade, and pose a significant risk to the environment.”

This all comes as the UK is pushing for more enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 to curb the flow of illicit weapons to the Houthis, with Woodward highlighting the importance of the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism to “disrupt the illegal weapons flow.”