WASHINGTON: The US Central Command announced on Wednesday that its forces had successfully intercepted and destroyed two drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi militia in the Red Sea, marking the latest escalation in tensions between the US-led marine coalition and the Houthis.
According to a statement released by CENTCOM, the Houthis launched two drones targeting US Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday morning. However, US Navy forces intercepted the drones before they could reach their intended targets.
There were no reported injuries or damage to any US, coalition, or commercial vessels. The statement emphasized that the drones posed an imminent threat to the safety of ships in the region.
In response to the alleged Houthi attacks, the US and UK conducted two airstrikes on Bajil District in Yemen’s western province of Hodeidah on Tuesday. However, the Houthis did not provide specific details about the targeted locations or any potential casualties or property damage resulting from the airstrikes.
The recent incident adds to a series of confrontations between the Houthis and the US-led coalition in the Red Sea region. Since November, the Houthis have launched numerous ballistic missiles and drones at both commercial and navy ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden. The group has claimed to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians.
The US has conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Houthi targets in various Yemeni areas, including Sanaa and Saada.
