Houthis used drone to attack ships in Red Sea - U.S. warship shot it down
U.S. warship shot down a drone in the Red Sea (photo: flickr.com/usnavy)
Yemeni Houthis launched a drone to attack several ships in the Red Sea. It was shot down by a U.S. warship, according to the U.S. Central Command.
"On January 6, an unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen was shot down in self-defense by USS LABOON (DDG 59) in international waters of the Southern Red Sea in the vicinity of multiple commercial vessels," the statement reads.
At the same time, it was reported that there was no information about casualties or damage.
Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
Since November, the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis have been attacking civilian ships in the Red Sea that have ties to Israel. This is happening against the backdrop of Israel's war with Hamas, which is supported by Yemeni militants.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced the country's readiness to take "direct action" in connection with Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea. In particular, he allowed for air strikes.
At the same time, in late December, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, made it clear that Tehran shares responsibility for preventing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
On December 19, the Pentagon announced the launch of a special operation called Prosperity Guardian to protect ships from the Houthis. More than 20 countries agreed to join the coalition. It was also reported that on December 16, a British destroyer used a Sea Viper missile to shoot down a drone that tried to attack a merchant ship in the Red Sea.
On January 4, members of the UN Security Council called on the Yemeni Houthis to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
