US military stated that American forces shot down three one-way attack drones near commercial ships in the Red Sea on Friday, following a day earlier strike on four drones on the ground in Yemen.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting shipping for months, and their attacks have continued despite repeated American and British bombings aimed at reducing the rebels’ capacity to threaten a critical global trade route.
“Early Friday morning, US Marines shot down three Houthi one-way attack (drones) near several commercial ships operating in the Red Sea. There was no damage to any ships”, Central Command (CENTCOM) stated.
According to CENTCOM, American forces hit four Houthi drones and two anti-ship cruise missiles on Thursday, and the weapons were prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the Red Sea.
The Houthis began assaulting Red Sea cargo in November, claiming they were targeting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been devastated by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
US and UK military responded by striking the Houthis, who have since deemed American and British interests to be valid targets as well.
Anger over Israel’s destructive campaign in Gaza, which began with an unprecedented Hamas offensive on October 7, has spread throughout the Middle East, inciting conflict between Iran-backed factions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Also read: Ukraine Attacks Russian Steel Plant On Second War Anniversary
