Drones launched from Yemen at U.S. destroyer in Red Sea - Attack repelled
A U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea repelled a drone attack launched by Houthis from Yemen (photo: twitter.com/CENTCOM)
The U.S. military shot down four drones that were launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen and were flying toward a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea, reports the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The U.S. military clarified that the incident occurred on Saturday, December 23, in the southern Red Sea.
It is noted that the destroyer USS LABOON (DDG 58) was patrolling as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect navigation in the Red Sea and "shot down four unmanned aerial drones that originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound to the USS LABOON."
The statement also said that there were no casualties or damage due to the incident.
Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
Representatives of the Houthi movement, which controls most of Yemen and is supported by Iran, disrupted world trade a few weeks ago with attacks on ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the southern Red Sea.
The Houthis call such actions a response to Israel's war with Hamas militants and the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip.
CENTCOM said that on December 23, two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired from Yemen along international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea. There were no reports of any ships being hit.
The U.S. Central Command also received reports from two ships in the southern Red Sea that they were attacked on Saturday.
In particular, it is the chemical/oil tanker M/V BLAAMANEN under the Norwegian flag and the crude oil tanker M/V SAIBABA under the Indian flag, owned by Gabon. There were no casualties as a result of the attacks.
"USS LABOON (DDG 58) responded to the distress calls from these attacks. These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17," CENTCOM said in a statement.
US-led coalition to protect ships in the Red Sea
Earlier it was reported that the United States is considering a strike against the Houthis because of attacks on merchant ships.
On December 19, the Pentagon announced the launch of a special operation called Prosperity Guardian to protect shipping in the Red Sea. More than 20 countries have already agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemeni Houthis.
The White House claims that Iran was "deeply involved" in planning the Yemeni movement's operations against merchant ships in the Red Sea.
