The risk of conflict escalating in the Middle East

Washington [US], January 17: Houthi forces threatened to attack US ships in the Red Sea, while Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed the status of the 'strong offensive phase' in Gaza.
Al Jazeera television network yesterday quoted spokesman Nasruldeen Amer of the Houthi force in Yemen declaring that British and American ships had become "legitimate targets" after these two countries launched attacks on Yemen. last week.
"The ship does not have to be headed to Israel to be our target. It is enough that it is related to the US. The US is on the verge of losing maritime security," Mr. Amer emphasized. Previously, the Houthis announced they would only target Israeli ships or ships en route to Israel, arguing that their actions were intended to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip .
The American ship was hit by a missile
Mr. Amer made the above statement not long after the US Central Command accused the Houthis of attacking the Gibraltar Eagle cargo ship belonging to the US company Eagle Bulk Shipping with missiles on January 15. The attack caused a fire in the ship's hold carrying steel products but there were no injuries, and the ship continued its voyage.
Earlier the same day, the British maritime security company Ambrey confirmed that a US cargo ship, flagging the Marshall Islands, was hit by a missile while traveling near Yemen's Aden port. Ambrey said the ship had no links to Israel, and that the new strike targeted US interests in response to recent attacks on Houthi military positions in Yemen. The latest attacks show that despite US and British airstrikes targeting nearly 30 Houthi locations in Yemen on January 12 and 13, Houthis continued to attack ships in the Red Sea. In response to this escalating conflict, at least 15 oil tankers are changing routes, according to Reuters, citing ship tracking data on January 15.
New developments in the Hamas - Israel conflict
The conflict in the Red Sea has escalated in the context of the Hamas - Israel conflict that has lasted for more than 3 months with no signs of cooling down. The Israeli army yesterday announced that it had destroyed dozens of Palestinian gunmen around the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza and discovered about 100 rocket launchers, according to Reuters.
Speaking at a press conference on January 15, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the "strong offensive phase" of Israel's landing in northern Gaza has ended and this phase will soon be completed in Khan Younis. , the largest city in southern Gaza. The Israeli army has confirmed that one of its four divisions deployed to Gaza completed its withdrawal on January 15.
Meanwhile, the UN said that the Hamas - Israel conflict lasting more than 3 months has caused about 85% of Gaza's population to be displaced, living crowded in shelters and struggling to get food, water, and food. fuel and medical care. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on January 15 continued to call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza "to ensure that enough aid gets to where it is needed, create favorable conditions for the release of hostages, and extinguish the flames of war." broader", according to AFP.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper