The Pentagon announced that U.S. and British forces intercepted 18 armed drones and three missiles launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen towards international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea on Tuesday evening.
The attack, which involved drone aircraft and both cruise and ballistic missiles, did not result in any injuries or damage.
According to a statement by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Iran-backed Houthis launched a complex attack with Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from areas under their control in Yemen, targeting the south of the Red Sea.
The CENTCOM statement added that U.S. and British forces deployed in adjacent waters successfully neutralized a total of 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile.
The response to this new Houthi attack was undertaken by F-18 fighters launched from the U.S. aircraft carrier Eisenhower, three American destroyers, and one British destroyer.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have been attacking ships they believe are associated with Israel or heading to Israeli ports. These attacks are being carried out near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic point at the southern end of the Red Sea.
The Houthis claim these attacks are part of a strategy to pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza. However, these assaults pose a risk to the maritime passage, which facilitates up to 12% of global trade.
This situation has prompted the United States to form a multinational naval force to protect maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
