Israel deploys missile corvettes in the Red Sea amid Houthi threat

Israel has deployed missile corvettes in the Red Sea in response to missile and drone strikes, for which the Shiite Houthi movement from Yemen has claimed responsibility.

Photos released by the Israeli army likely depict Sa’ar 5 class corvettes patrolling near the port of Eilat on the Red Sea, according to Reuters. This marks the second recent deployment of this class of ship by the Israeli army, following their use in operations against targets in the Gaza Strip a few days ago.

Sa'ar 5 units are heavily armed and well-equipped naval vessels. Their inventory includes Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, Barak anti-aircraft missile launchers, Mk 32 torpedo tubes, and the Vulcan Phalanx system, a six-barrelled 20mm caliber cannon.

Each Sa'ar 5 missile corvette spans 281 ft in length and nearly 39 ft in width, with capacity for over 60 crew members. There's also a deck available to accommodate a helicopter, typically the twin-engine multi-purpose Eurocopter Dauphin in Israeli service.

Israel regards the Red Sea as a new war front due to retaliatory actions from pro-Hamas forces, which are supported by Iran throughout the region, following recent Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip.

Previously, Israel, along with its allies, had fortified the eastern parts of the Mediterranean. The United States directed the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by a naval combat group. Britain prepared the multifunctional ships RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay for support, while France deployed one of the largest ships in its navy, the Tonnerre.