WASHINGTON: The United States military announced on Wednesday that it successfully intercepted and destroyed four drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, targeting a US warship in the Red Sea.
According to a statement released by US Central Command on X, formerly Twitter, the engagement occurred at approximately 2 am Sanaa time (2300 GMT). The statement confirmed that there were no injuries or damage reported to any US or coalition ships.
The statement emphasized that the drones posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. The action was taken to safeguard freedom of navigation and ensure the safety of international waters for both US Navy and merchant vessels.
In recent months, the Houthis have intensified their campaign of drone and missile strikes against vessels in the Red Sea. These attacks have targeted an area crucial for global trade, with the Houthis claiming solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In response to these attacks, US and British forces have conducted counter-strikes against the Houthis. In turn, the Houthis have declared American and British interests as legitimate targets.
