US and coalition forces successfully repelled mass drone strike by Houthi rebels
Illustrative photo: US and coalition forces repel a massive drone attack in the Red Sea (Getty Images)
The United States military and coalition forces protecting maritime navigation in the Red Sea repelled another aerial attack from Yemeni Houthi rebels in the region. During the operation, dozens of drones were successfully intercepted and downed, according to the Twitter (X) account of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to information provided by the US military, after battles on Saturday morning, the forces of the United States and the coalition "downed a total of at least 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles."
It is noted that this massive air attack occurred between 04:00 and 08:20 in the morning (local time in Sania) on March 9.
"No US or Coalition Navy vessels were damaged in the attack and there were also no reports by commercial ships of damage," clarified the Central Command.
Attacks by the Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea and the US and coalition operation
Since November of last year, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been launching drone and missile attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden in solidarity with Palestinians opposing Israeli military actions against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
In response to the ongoing attacks by the militants, on January 12, the United States and the United Kingdom launched missile strikes for the first time against Houthi military targets in Yemen.
At the end of January, a Houthi drone attacked a British military ship in the Red Sea, and the following day, the Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked an American destroyer. However, the Pentagon refuted the militants' claim.
On February 26, the Houthis again targeted a tanker in the Gulf of Aden flying the American flag. A few days prior to this incident, they attacked a US ship carrying humanitarian aid in the Red Sea.
On March 6, it was reported that the vessel True Confidence, under the flag of Barbados, came under fire. At least three sailors lost their lives in the attack. Additionally, on March 2, a commercial ship, the Rubimar, sank in the Red Sea under the flag of Belize and owned by the United Kingdom. The vessel had been struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by the Houthis on February 18. The crew of the ship was evacuated at that time. This incident marks the first ship sinking following an attack by the militants.
