The United States and its coalition forces have downed at least 28 attack drones sent by Iranian-backed Houthis to target American ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to the U.S. Central Command. The “large-scale” attack by the Houthi rebels came late Friday night by unmanned aerial vehicles.
This attack was coordinated by Houthi rebels in the latest of a series conducted by the Houthis against commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea since mid-November, which the group has said is a response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza since October 7th, according to a report by Politico.
“CENTCOM and coalition forces identified the one-way attack (OWA) UAVs and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels, U.S. Navy, and coalition ships in the region,” CENTCOM posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, early Saturday morning.
US and Coalition Defeat Houthi Attack in Red Sea Area
Between 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists conducted a large-scale uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) attack into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM and coalition forces identified the one-way… pic.twitter.com/PJag5PYUfZ
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 9, 2024
“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure,” CENTCOM said of the U.S. Navy and allies shooting down the UAVs.
British Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps also took to X Saturday morning to confirm the attack, writing that, “The UK and our allies will continue to take the action necessary to save lives and protect freedom of navigation.”
Last night, HMS Richmond used its Sea Ceptor missiles to shoot down two attack drones – successfully repelling yet another illegal attack by the Iranian backed Houthis.
The UK and our allies will continue to take the action necessary to save lives and protect freedom of… pic.twitter.com/CIeGaAgjg8
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 9, 2024
CENTCOM also confirmed that no Navy or commercial ships were damaged in the attack.
Houthi Rebels Strike A Swiss-Owned Container Ship
The Houthi militant group has ramped up attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea, and the West’s attempts to cull such attacks by striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen have failed.
WAR Escalation: Houthis Attack A U.S. Ship Killing Three
The war is continuing to escalate, while the U.S. refrains from more strikes on land, in favor of hitting the unmanned vehicles over the Red Sea.
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