Timeline of the Red Sea Crisis (October — December 2023)

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about the Red Sea Crisis, also known as the United States — Houthi conflict and by now, you had to have figured that this is just a proxy war between the United States and Iran.

Well, since this is the 21st century, the conflict is really well documented on a day-by-day basis. So now, I present to you, the timeline of the conflict between October — December 2023.

U.S. Task Forces Deploy

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups in November 2023

Following the start of the Israel — Hamas war on October 7, 2023, the U.S. deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike force (Task Force Group 12) to the Eastern Mediterranean on October 8.

The strike force included:

• USS Gerald R. Ford (Gerald R. Ford-class Aircraft Carrier)
• USS Normandy (Ticonderoga-class Cruiser)
• USS Carney (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)
• USS Ramage (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)
• USS Roosevelt (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)
• USS Thomas Hudner (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)

October 14, the U.S. deployed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike force to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The strike force included:

• USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier)
• USS Philippine Sea (Flight II Ticonderoga-class Cruiser)
• USS Laboon (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)
• USS Mason (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)
• USS Gravely (Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer)

The Conflict Begins (October 19, 2023)

October 19 — U.S. Defense of Israel

• The Houthis (based in Yemen) launched four land-attack cruise missiles and 15 one-way attack drones towards Israel.
• All were shot down by the USS Carney (destroyer).
• Saudi Arabia shot down a fifth missile launched by Houthi towards Israel later in the day.
• Significance: First action by the United States to defend Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war.
• The Associated Press (AP) reported that this was a major escalation in the regional conflict and that the tension in the Middle East rose significantly because of the US intervention.
• U.S. Brigadier General Pat Ryder reported that the drones were “potentially” heading towards Israel, so the U.S. defended Israel.
• First combat-actions by the USS Carney in the conflict.
• First combat-actions by Saudi Arabia in the conflict.

The USS Carney engages wave of 14 Israel-bound Houthi missiles

October 27 — Houthi [unintentionally] attacks Egypt

• The Houthis launched two suicide drones (loitering munition) from the southern Red Sea in a north direction towards Israel.
• Both drones fell short and failed to reach Israel.
• One drone struck the town of Taba, Egypt — A building next to a hospital was struck and six people were injured.
• One drone struck near the town of Nuweiba, Egypt. The drone was shot down by the Egyptian military. KEY: Shot down outside of Egypt airspace.
• Houthi never directly confirmed the target of the attack. However, a Houthi spokesperson after the failed drone attack later made a one-word statement: “Eilat”, which is the name of an Israeli city.

Significance:

• First attack by Houthi on Egypt.
• First casualties of the conflict were the six Egyptian civilian injuries.

October 31 — SPACE WARFARE!

• The Houthis fired several cruise missiles and a ballistic missile towards Eilat, Israel.
• The Israeli Air Force shot down all the cruise missiles.
• One of the cruise missiles was shot down by an Israeli F-35I Adir fighter jet.
• The ballistic missile was shot down by the Israeli Arrow System.
• Significance: The ballistic missile was shot down above the Kármán Line…In Space. First instance ever in history of Space Warfare! Also, the first time ever the Arrow System was used in the Israel-Hamas war.
• Also, the first combat-action by Israel in the conflict.

November 1 — Air threat

• The Israeli military shot down an “air threat” launched from the Houthis.

November 8 — U.S. Reaper Shot Down

• The Houthis shot down a United States MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen.
• Significance: First U.S. loss of the conflict.

A MQ-9 Reaper over Afghanistan in 2008 — Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt

November 9 — Arrow 3 Missile Time

• The Houthis launched a missile towards Eilat, Israel.
• The missile was shot down by an Israeli Arrow 3 missile.
• Significance: First time an Arrow 3 missile was used for an interception.

November 14 — Houthi attacks Israel…Again

• The Houthis fired multiple missiles towards Israel.
• One was confirmed to be aimed at Eilat, Israel.
• Intercepted and shot down by an Israeli Arrow System missile.

November 15 — USS Thomas Hudner Action

• The Houthis launched an attack drone at the USS Thomas Hudner.
• The USS Thomas Hudner shot the drone down.
• Significance: First combat-actions by the USS Thomas Hudner in the conflict.

November 19 — The Galaxy Leader

The Galaxy Leader

• The Houthis launch an attack on the Bahamas-flagged, Japanese/Israeli-owned vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader.
• Ten armed Houthis used a military helicopter to board the vessel.
• The crew of 25 were captured along with the vessel.
• The ship had no cargo at the time of the attack.
• An analysis by a United States defense official determined the attackers were trained by a professional military, possibly Iran.
• Iran denied any involvement.
• Significance: First civilian-ship to be captured in the conflict.

November 22 — F-35 Fun

• The Houthis launched a cruise missile towards Eilat, Israel
• The missile is shot down by an Israeli F-35 fighter aircraft

November 23 — USS Thomas Hudner Action…Again

• The Houthis launch multiple attack drones at the USS Thomas Hudner.
• All drones were shot down by the USS Thomas Hudner.

November 24 — Iran & The Triangle Bomb

• The Iranian military launched an attack on the Malta-flagged, Singapore/Israeli-owned ship CMA CGM Symi.
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a one-way drone and struck the CMA CGM Symi.
• The ship sustained some damage, but no injuries occurred to the crew.
• The IRGC used a triangle-shaped bomb dropped by the drone for the attack.
• Significance: First combat-action from the Iranian military in the conflict.
• The Houthis launched a one-way drone towards Eilat, Israel.
• An Israeli fighter jet shot the drone down over the Red Sea.

November 26 — USS Mason Fights Pirates

• The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Central Park was seized by five Somalian pirates.
• 22 crew members were captured as hostages.
• The tanker was carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid at the time of the attack.
• The USS Mason along with an allied ship (Task Force 151) conducted a boarding of the Central Park after the attack and recaptured the tanker. The crew was unharmed.
• Significance: First combat-action from the USS Mason in the conflict.
• The French Navy frigate Languedoc (D653) joins the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Force in the Arabian Gulf.

The French Naxy frigate Languedoc along side the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

November 27 — Houthi…Really…Again?

• The Houthis launch an attack against the USS Mason and Central Park.
• Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched at the ships. Both missed.

November 29 — The KAS-04 UAV

• The Houthis launch a KAS-04 UAV towards the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
• The drone is shot down by the USS Carney.
• It was determined that the UAV was heading towards the USS Carney, so it was shot down in self-defense.
• At the time of the attack, the USS Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Supply-class fast combat support ship in the United States Navy.

November 30 — Israel Goes on The Offense

• The Israeli military conducted an airstrike in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen.
• Sana’a is controlled by the Houthis after the Houthi takeover in September 2014 to February 2015
• The airstrike caused an explosion.
• Saudi Arabia reported a Houthi arms depot was destroyed, causing the explosion.
• Houthi officials denied the Israeli airstrike hit an arms depot, but rather it hit a gas station
• A member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council (Hezam al-Asad) denied that the airstrike occurred all together, and that the explosion was an old bomb from the Yemeni Civil War/Houthi takeover.
• Significance: The first Israeli-offensive action against the Houthis.

December 2 — Iranian UAV

• An aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Carrier Air Wing intercepted an Iranian UAV in the Arabian Gulf.

December 3 — Triple Houthi Hits

• The Houthis launched three missiles and three drones at the USS Carney and three commercial ships.
• The Houthis launched a ballistic missile towards the Bahamas-flagged, United Kingdom/Israeli-owned bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit “near” the ship.
• The Houthis launched a one-way drone towards the USS Carney. The USS Carney shot the drone down.
• 30 minutes later, the Houthis launched another ballistic missile at the United Explorer. This missile hit the bulk carrier, causing minor damage.
• The Houthis launched two more missiles towards the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 (United Kingdom owned) and Sophie II (Japanese owned). Both ships were hit and sustained some damage.
• While responding to aid requests from the Sophie II, the Houthis launched another one-way drone towards the USS Carney. This was also shot down by the USS Carney.
• Significance: Houthi officially only claimed responsibility for the attacks on two of the three commercial ships. They also did not claim responsibility for launching any attacks against the USS Carney.

The USS Carney in 2006 — Charles A. Ordoqui

December 7 — U.S. Sanctions

• The United States imposes sanctions on 13 people and entities who were funding the Houthi movement.

December 10 — Houthi attacks the French

• The Houthis launched an attack on the French Navy frigate Languedoc (D653).
• Two drones were launched from Hodeida, a Houthi-controlled port city in Yemen.
• Both drones were shot down by the Languedoc.
• Significance: First combat-action by France as well as the Languedoc in the conflict. The French government determined the Languedoc was the target of the attack, meaning this was the first attack by Houthi against the French.

December 11 — The Strinda

• The Houthis launched an anti-ship cruise missile at the Norwegian owned and operated tanker Strinda.
• The ship was hit by the missile, which caused a fire onboard.
• The USS Mason was not near the Strinda at the time of the attack but responded to the mayday call from the ship and rendered assistance.
• A spokesperson for Houthi (Brigadier General Yahya Saree) reported that the Strinda was contacted by Houthi, but that the Strinda “rejected all warning calls”.
• The French Navy frigate Languedoc (D653) shot down another drone heading towards the Strinda.
• Significance: Houthi did not claim the ship had any ties to Israel, but rather that it did not listen to them in international waters. Also, the 2nd combat-action by the Languedoc.

December 13 — The Ardmore Encounter

The Ardmore Encounter

• The Houthis launched a series of attacks against the Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda/Israeli owned tanker Ardmore Encounter. The Ardmore Encounter was carrying a cargo of Indian-manufactured jet fuel to Europe.
• The Houthis attempted to board the Ardmore Encounter.
• Armed men aboard the vessels exchanged gunfire and the boarding attempt failed.
• The Ardmore Encounter sent out a mayday call, which was responded to by the USS Mason.
• After the failed boarding attempt, the Houthis launched two missiles towards the Ardmore Encounter.
• One missile fell short of the tanker.
• An anonymous (unnamed) source from Ambrey reported that the second missile was shot down by an anti-missile battery.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the USS Mason.
• While responding to the mayday call from the Ardmore Encounter, the USS Mason shot down a drone launched by the Houthis.
• The United States military reported the drone was heading directly towards the USS Mason, so the drone was shot down in self-defense.
• Significance: Houthi launched a direct attack against the United States military & failed a boarding operation.

December 14 — The Iranian Threat and Maersk Gibraltar

• The Houthis launched an attack against the Hong Kong-flagged, Danish-owned container ship Maersk Gibraltar.
• The Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the ship, which splashed harmlessly in the water near the ship.
• Houthi’s spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree reported that the Maersk Gibraltar was struck with a ballistic missile after it failed to surrender itself to Houthi. This was false as the ship was not hit by a missile.
• The Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani publicly announced that any international coalition formed by the United States “will face extraordinary problems”.
• Significance: The Iranian government and military threaten the United States with the threat of war.

December 15 — Houthi attacks Liberia

• The Houthis threatened to attack the Liberian-flagged motor vessel MSC Alanya.
• The U.S. military maintained direct communication with the MSC Alanya while it was in the vicinity of Yemen. Houthi never attacked it.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Liberian-flagged, German owned motor vessel Al Jasrah.
• The Al Jasrah was struck by a one-way attack drone launched.
• The Al Jasrah broadcasted a mayday immediately after the attack as there was a fire onboard the vessel. The fire was eventually put out without U.S. military assistance.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Liberian-flagged, Swiss/Israeli owned vessel MSC Palatium III.
• The Houthis launched two ballistic missiles towards the ship.
• One missile struck the ship, causing a fire onboard.
• One missile “likely missed any ships”, according to the U.S. military.
• The MSC Palatium III broadcasted a mayday call due to the fire. This was responded to by the USS Mason.
• Significance: The Houthis launch three attacks against Liberian interests.

The Al Jasrah in 2019 — Philipe Alès

December 16 — USS Carney Attacked

• The Houthis launched 14 one-way suicide attack drones towards ships in the Red Sea.
• All attack drones were shot down by the USS Carney.

December 18 — Operation Prosperity Guardian Begins

• The Houthis launched an attack against the Cayman Island’s flagged-Norwegian owned chemical/oil tanker Swan Atlantic.
• The Houthis launched a one-way suicide drone ballistic missile at the tanker. Both the drone and the missile struck the tanker, causing a fire onboard.
• The Swan Atlantic requested assistance, which was responded to by the USS Carney.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Panama-flagged, Swiss owned bulk carrier MSC Clara.
• An explosion occurred in the water near the ship, causing no damage. It is unknown if this was caused by a missile or a drone.
• The Indian Navy deploys the INS Kolkata to the Gulf of Aden.
• The INS Kolkata is a Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyer.
• The Indian Navy had already deployed the INS Kochi off the Somalian coast to counter piracy.

Operation Prosperity Guardian Begins

• The United States formally announces a coalition to help in defending ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Coalition consists of:

• The United States
• The United Kingdom
• Bahrain
• Canada
• France
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Seychelles
• Spain
• Significance: Today is when Operation Prosperity Guardian began, and the coalition consisted of 10 countries.

December 20 — Operation Prosperity Guardian Grows

• Houthi threatens the United States, saying they will not hesitate to attack U.S. warships in the region.
• Houthi accuses the United States of “waging war” against their country (Yemen).
• Significance: Denmark joins the US-led coalition: Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• Significance: The European Union agrees to send support for Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• Significance: The European Union announces the beginning of Operation Atlanta, which is formal support from the EU for Operation Prosperity Guardian.

December 21 — Operation Prosperity Guardian Grows More

• Egypt announces they will not formally join the US-led coalition; however, they will work to ensure safe navigation for ships in the region.
• Significance: Greece joins the US-led coalition: Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• Significance: Australia joins the US-led coalition: Operation Prosperity Guardian.

December 23 — The attack on the Chem Pluto — Iran?

• The Houthis launched an attack against the USS Laboon.
• The USS Laboon was formally patrolling the Southern Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• The Houthis launched four suicide drones towards the USS Laboon, which shot all of them down.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Norwegian owned and operated cargo ship Blaamanen.
• The Blaamanen was carrying a cargo of vegetable oil.
• The Houthis launched a one-way attack drone towards the ship. The drone was a “near miss” to the ship and caused no damage.
• The USS Laboon responded to the Blaamanen’s request for assistance after the attack.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Indian-flagged, Gabon owned crude oil tanker Saibaba.
• The Houthis launched a one-way attack drone towards the ship, which struck the Saibaba. No injuries were reported, but the ship was damaged.
• The USS Laboon responded to the ship’s request for assistance after the attack.
• KEY EVENT: The Liberian-flagged, Japanese owned and Netherlands operated oil tanker Chem Pluto was attacked by the Iranian military.
• A one-way attack drone was launched from Iran and struck the Chem Pluto.
• Iran’s military formally denied any involvement in the attack.
• The ICGS Vikram, a Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel in the Indian Coast Guard, responded to assist the Chem Pluto.

The ICGS Vikram in 2018 — Government of India

Significance:

• First combat-action by the US-led coalition: Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• This was also the first combat-action by the USS Laboon in the conflict.
• First time the United States officially accused the Iranian military in a combat-action during the conflict.
• This is the first combat-action of the Iranian military in the conflict to the United States’ government.

December 26 — The FA/18 Super Hornet Joined The Fight

• The Houthis launched an attack against the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC United VIII.
• Several explosions occurred near the ship with no damage being reported.
• The Houthis launch a series of drones and missiles towards ships in the Southern Red Sea.
• The United States military reported that 12 one-way attack drones, 3 ballistic missiles, and 2 cruise missiles launched by the Houthis were shot down.
• These were shot down by the USS Laboon and F/A 18 Super Hornets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• India deploys the INS Mormugao and the INS Visakhapatnam to the Arabian Sea. Both are Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.
• The Houthis launch an attack against Israel.
• The Houthis launched multiple one-way attack drones towards Eilat, Israel.
• Significance: First combat-action by F/A 18 Super Hornets in the conflict.

December 30 — Battle for the MV Maersk Hangzhou [Day 1]

• The Houthis launched an attack against the Singapore-flagged, Denmark owned and operated H-class container ship Maersk Hangzhou.
• The Houthis launched a barrage of missiles towards the Maersk Hangzhou, with one missile striking the ship.
• The USS Laboon and USS Gravely were sent by the United States to assist the Maersk Hangzhou.
• While responding to the Maersk Hangzhou, the US warships were attacked by the Houthis.
• Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched towards the USS Laboon and USS Gravely.
• The USS Gravely shot both missiles down.

Significance:

• First combat-action of the USS Gravely in the conflict.
• KEY: Battle for the MV Maersk Hangzhou [Day 1]

December 31 — Battle for the MV Maersk Hangzhou [Day 2]

• The Houthis launched an attack against the Singapore-flagged, Denmark owned and operated H-class container ship Maersk Hangzhou.
• The Houthis launched an attack against the Maersk Hangzhou using four skiffs with mounted weapons.
• At 6:30 AM local time, the Houthi skiffs fired upon the Maersk Hangzhou and attempted to board the vessel.
• Private security contractors on the Maersk Hangzhou returned fired.
• The Maersk Hangzhou sent out a distress signal, which was responded to by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Gravely, which dispatched helicopters.
• As the US Navy helicopters arrived, the Houthis opened fired on the US.
• The US Navy helicopters returned fired and sank three of the Houthi skiffs.
• The fourth skiff escaped.
• In total, 10 Houthis were killed during the engagement.

Significance:

• First combat-action of U.S. Navy helicopters in the conflict.
• KEY: Battle for the MV Maersk Hangzhou [Day 2]
• First full-fledged battle of the conflict.