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The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, were allegedly the source of the twelve attack drones and five missiles that the US shot down on Tuesday in Red Sea. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that no injuries or ship damage had been detected in the vicinity.
“U.S. assets, including the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis over a 10 hour period which began at approximately 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on December 26. There was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” the US CENTCOM posted on X.
U.S. assets, to include the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the… pic.twitter.com/vRQ5e6Au6d
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 26, 2023
Israel Defence Forces down “hostile aerial target”
As part of a US-led coalition to defend shipping channels from Houthi attacks in the vital Bab el-Mandeb strait, the USS Laboon, a guided-missile destroyer, and F-18 fighter jets from the Eisenhower carrier strike group are in the southern Red Sea.
The Israel Defence Forces declared that they had shot down a “hostile aerial target” that was approaching Israel and was being tracked by the IAF’s air traffic control. This announcement was made after that. In support of Gaza, the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, claimed to be launching drones at Eilat.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari termed the attacks “acts of terror” directed by Iran. “This is an act that is carried out under Iranian directives,” he added.
Video of the interception off the coast of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula was made public by the IDF. Witnesses near Dahab reported seeing something fall into the Gulf of Aqaba, according to Egyptian media.
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No injuries on the scene
Blasts were heard roughly two kilometers from the Egyptian seaside resort of Dahab, which is located about 125 kilometers south of Eilat, according to Al Qahera News channel, which has ties to state intelligence.
Reports of damage or injuries were absent. Video from Al-Arabiya demonstrated the aerial interception. Drones were fired onto southern Israel by the Houthis, who claimed to have struck the MSC UNITED with missiles. The majority of the drone and missile attacks that Yemen’s Houthis have launched against Israel have been intercepted.
On October 7, thousands of Hamas militants crossed the border and killed numerous Israelis, sparking the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Houthis claim to be in sympathy with Gaza and have killed over 20,900 people.
