The US Central Command (Centcom) announced that it successfully engaged and destroyed five drones over the Red Sea, which posed an imminent threat to coalition forces and commercial shipping.
According to the command, the operation occurred between 1:48 AM and 2:27 AM Sanaa time on April 28.
The Central Command stated, “It was determined that the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represented an imminent threat to the United States, our allies in the Prosperity Coalition, and commercial vessels operating in the region.”
The action was described as necessary “to protect the freedom of navigation and to ensure the international waters remain safe for American and allied merchant ships.”
The origin of the drones has not been disclosed by the Central Command. However, on April 26, the Central Command also reported engaging and destroying a boat and a drone in areas controlled by the Houthi forces in Yemen.
Both the United States and the United Kingdom have accused the Yemeni Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) of threatening navigation freedom in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In contrast, the Houthi movement asserts that its targets are exclusively ships associated with Israel, in solidarity with Gaza, which is currently experiencing a bloody conflict and a civilian blockade imposed by Israel.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, recently asserted that despite ongoing attacks by the rebels on ships linked to Israel, the US and the UK have reduced their naval presence in the Red Sea.
Al-Houthi dismissed claims of decreased rebel operations, stating, “Our operations remain unaffected, contrary to American assertions of achievement.
It is the movement of their warships that has seen an 80% reduction, not our activities,” as reported by Iranian broadcaster Almasirah, marking 200 days of hostilities in Gaza.
