US warns ships of evolving threats after attacks in Red Sea

The U.S. has warned all commercial ships transiting the Indian Ocean to exercise caution after several clashes in the Red Sea this month involving pirates and Iranian-backed groups around the Middle East.

The Maritime Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, issued an alert Monday directing all ships to “exercise caution when transiting these areas and remain cognizant of evolving threats in this region.”

The alert, which will automatically expire Dec. 4, comes after two previous advisories from the Maritime Administration in September and October warning commercial boats to exercise caution and take preventive actions in waters around the Middle East.

The U.S. is suggesting ships avoid Iran’s international waters and the ports of Yemen as best as possible and to maintain vigilance for small boats and drones that could pose a threat.

In the event an Iranian group attempts to seize the boat, the advisories suggest the crew contact U.S. 5th Fleet.

Iranian fighters seized two vessels in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz over the spring and attempted to seize two more in July.

The Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7 sparked another round of clashes in the waters around the Middle East.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen seized an Israeli-linked commercial tanker on Nov. 19, and a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire was attacked by Iranian drones last week.

Somali pirates also attempted to seize a commercial tanker with Israeli ties in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but were thwarted by a U.S. Navy boat, according to the Pentagon.