The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that it intercepted and downed a drone launched by the Houthi rebels over the Gulf of Aden.
The command clarified that the Houthi drone posed a threat to commercial shipping in the area.
Earlier on Sunday morning, the Central Command had announced that a drone was launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden on Friday.
This drone was successfully neutralized, and on early Saturday, three additional drones launched from Houthi territories targeting the Red Sea were destroyed.
No reports of injuries or damage from the American coalition or commercial vessels have been received.
For several months, the Houthi group, which controls the most densely populated regions of Yemen, has been attacking ships off the country’s coast in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, according to their statements.
These attacks have forced commercial companies to shift to a longer and more expensive route around Africa.
Yemen’s Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, recently unveiled plans to broaden their targeted ships, regardless of destination, in retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza.
The move, termed as the fourth stage of escalation, raises concerns of further disruption to global shipping routes.
Previous attacks in the Red Sea have already led to rerouting, prompting responses from the US and UK.
The statement comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, fueling fears of wider destabilization.
This development underscores the urgent need for international stakeholders to address the escalating situation and its implications on maritime security and regional stability.
