The British Navy is conducting operations to recover the seized ship amid Houthi hijacking of commercial ships » Today Latest Stories

Amid a series of Houthi attacks on commercial ships, the Royal Navy and Portuguese helicopters carried out rapid and well-coordinated exercises to regain control of a ship seized by armed attackers.

In a recent joint training exercise off the coast of Portugal, helicopters of the Royal and Portuguese Navy, specifically flyers of Marine Air Squadron 846 and Portuguese Squadron 751, conducted a successful operation to recover a Portuguese patrol ship from armed intruders.

Merlin helicopters, operated by both squadrons, carried out an attack with troops quickly climbing onto the deck, rescuing the hostages, and regaining control of the ship.

This training initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of NATO allies to implement vital maritime interdiction operations.

This development is particularly important against the backdrop of escalating maritime tensions, as the Houthis – an Iranian-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen – are using drones and missiles to target commercial ships.

Lieutenant Commander David Houghton Barnes, M-Flight, boarding operations experts with the 846th Marine Air Squadron, emphasized the importance of the training, saying: “It was a fantastic exercise in a new environment that demonstrated what is possible when specialists work together to achieve joint operations.” “

The joint exercise spanned over three weeks to deploy 120 of the 846 members to Montego Air Base, near Lisbon, challenging aircrew and student pilots across Portugal’s skies.

The training included various tasks, including landing troops into battle, carrying loads, and simulating hostile engagements.

The Royal Navy said the deployment, building on previous cooperation in the summer, had helped strengthen the ability of the UK and Portuguese squadrons to operate seamlessly.

“Our partnership with 751 Squadron is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence and the pursuit of the highest standards in naval aviation training,” said Commander James Coleman, 846 NAS commander.

He highlighted the invaluable experience gained by students, engineers and supporting elements, which expands deployment capabilities, enhances interoperability, and increases the collective ability to succeed in maritime operations.

Increased attacks on commercial ships

Over the past month, Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, carried out more than 100 attacks on 12 different commercial ships in the Red Sea. This wave of attacks, which a senior US military official described as “widespread,” represents a level of aggression not seen in at least two generations.

Houthi militants have targeted or captured commercial ships on 12 occasions, and 25 crew members of the MV Galaxy Leader remain held hostage in Yemen.

The escalation of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea has also prompted urgent responses from the United States and its allies as they work together to secure this vital global trade route.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the formation of a new multinational force on December 18.

This is a collaborative effort Objectives To address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with the primary goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and promoting regional security and prosperity. The coalition will include armed forces from the United States, Britain, Bahrain, Canada and France.

Under the proposed mission, the military ships would not escort specific ships, but would be strategically located to provide comprehensive protection to as many ships as possible at any given time. This approach seeks to deter further attacks and enhance the security of the entire sea lane.

In response to this development, Mohammed Abdel Salam, the Houthi rebels’ chief negotiator and spokesman, challenged the US-led coalition on December 19, declaring his intention to continue targeting ships linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen.

At the same time, the severity of the situation has forced large shipping and oil companies to divert from the Suez Canal, a vital sea lane for container ships and fuel tankers. This move may disrupt global trade and increase the costs of imported goods.

At the shipping giant Maersk redirection Its ships are away from the affected area. Although it welcomed international security efforts, Maersk chose to sail its ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, a longer and less efficient route.

The company believes that this alternative provides “more predictable results” for its clients amid the current turbulent situation in the Red Sea.