More recently, the rebel group has stepped up its targeting of commercial vessels sailing in the Red Sea, which lies south of the Suez Canal, a strategic naval route between Europe and Asia and east Africa. They are not thought to have inflicted any serious damage. Yemen’s Houthis, who have the backing of Iran, have launched several missile and drone attacks on Israel since the start of the war in Gaza on 7 October. US Central Command said Unity Explorer is Bahamas-flagged and UK-owned, that Number 9 is Panamanian-flagged, Bermuda- and UK-owned and operated, and Sophie II is Panamanian-flagged.

Hagari said: “One ship was significantly damaged and it is in distress and apparently is in danger of sinking and another ship was lightly damaged.” Israeli military spokesperson R Adm Daniel Hagari said the ships had “no connection to the state of Israel”. It said the attacks were a threat to international commerce.

It was not clear if the warship was a target.

The US military said the Carney shot down two drones as it helped the commercial vessels. In a broadcast statement, the spokesperson said the attacks were in response to the demands of the Yemeni people and calls from Islamic nations to stand with the Palestinian people. A spokesperson for the group’s military said the two ships were targeted after they rejected warnings, without elaborating. Yemen’s Houthi movement said its navy had attacked two ships, Unity Explorer and Number 9, with an armed drone and a naval missile and claimed the vessels were Israeli. It named the vessels attacked as Unity Explorer, Number 9 and Sophie II. The Carney, a US destroyer, responded to distress calls and provided assistance following missile and drone launches from Houthi-controlled territory, according to US Central Command.

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