ALBAWABA - Since November 19, the Yemeni militia group Houthi launched at least 26 attacks against U.S. on international shipping lanes, over the southern perimeters of the Red Sea.
The United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has said it shot down 18 drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the southern Red Sea. CENTCOM added that two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile were also brought down in association with naval forces from the United Kingdom.
CENTCOM said in a statement that "Iranian-backed Huthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs… anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea,".
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said on Wednesday UK and US naval forces have "repelled the largest attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date".
Fighter jets from the Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and four destroyers, including one from the UK, took part in the operation, CENTCOM reported. No injuries or damage were reported.
In December the U.S. formed an alliance with several countries including France and Italy to stand in the face of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
The United States launched a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea as attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni militants forced major shipping companies to reroute, fuelling concern over sustained disruptions to global trade.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US naval forces in the Middle East, stated that the Houthis launched an explosives-laden sea drone into shipping lanes last week, the first time they had used such a weapon in the current conflict.
The UN Security Council is set to vote on a draft resolution put forward by the US that condemns the attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and demands an immediate end to such actions as well as the release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew.
