US protection may not be enough to convince shipping giants they're safe from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea
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- The US has been driving off attacks by Iran-backed rebels in the Red Sea.
- It may not be enough to calm shipping companies' concerns.
- Maersk is pausing travel after one of its ships was attacked twice in under a day.
Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, is pausing transit through the Red Sea again because of the threat from Houthi rebels — despite US military assets driving off attacks in the area.
Iran-backed militants attacked the shipping vessel Maersk Hangzhou twice in under 24 hours on Sunday, launching missiles and smaller boats against the ship, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
Houthis fired anti-ship missiles at the Maersk Hangzhou while it was heading through the southern Red Sea, Centcom said — one struck the vessel, though no one was reportedly hurt.
The US warship USS Gravely shot down two more missiles fired by Houthis. Hours later, the same ship called for help as armed militants tried to board the ship from four small boats.
Helicopters from the Gravely and USS Eisenhower came to the Maersk ship's aid, blasting three of the four boats and killing all crew aboard, according to Centcom. The fourth boat fled, it added.
US protection may not be enough
They were the 23rd and 24th attacks by the Iranian-aligned rebels since mid-November.
The Houthis say they're attacking ships in the vital shipping lane in response to Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza after a deadly Hamas terror attack in October.
US military assets have tangled with Houthi rebels multiple times since the attacks began, shooting down missiles and drones fired at container ships.
Shipping giants like Maersk had been rerouting ships from the area due to the attacks, hampering international trade. The US launched an international naval coalition called Operation Prosperity Guardian in December to protect the ships.
That led companies like Maersk to return to normal operations that month — but attacks like the one against the Maersk Hangzhou appear to be rattling the logistics firms' confidence.
Maersk — one of the biggest cargo shipping companies in the world — announced it'll pause shipping for 48 hours after the Houthi attacks.
The US had called on its partners to work together to drive off the assault. But Reuters reported that US allies aren't committing to the cause; nearly half haven't signed up for the coalition publicly, the outlet reported.
And the Houthis show no sign of stopping their attacks. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the region, told the Associated Press that it's likely the "reckless" assault will continue. He added that other countries will sign on to join the coalition in the coming weeks, the AP reported.