A U.S. destroyer successfully intercepted and shot down drones and a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, officials reported early Wednesday. The incident happened as the Indian navy released footage of its efforts to combat a fire onboard a container ship previously targeted by the Houthis.
The attack on Tuesday appeared directed at the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer involved in countering the rebel group amidst Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. According to the U.S. military’s Central Command, the Houthi assault involved explosive-laden drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile.
“On March 5, between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile and three one-way attack unmanned aerial systems launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Red Sea. There are no injuries or damage to the ship,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
Also Read: Red Sea crisis: Yemen’s Houthis hit container vessel in Gulf of Aden with missile
“CENTCOM forces destroyed three anti-ship missiles and three unmanned surface vessels(USV) in self-defense. The missiles and USVs were located in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. CENTCOM forces identified the missiles, UAVs, and USVs and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels,” it said.
Red Sea Update
On March 5, between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile and three one-way attack unmanned aerial systems launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen toward… pic.twitter.com/MtzCKu9YlA
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 5, 2024
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi military, confirmed the attack but asserted that their forces had targeted two American warships without providing further details. Saree emphasized the Houthis’ determination to continue their actions until the perceived aggression ceases and the blockade on Gaza are lifted.
While the Houthis acknowledged their initial attack, they did not comment on subsequent U.S. airstrikes. Despite ongoing airstrikes since January, the rebels have maintained their capacity to carry out significant assaults, including targeting cargo vessels and downing high-value assets like American drones.
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping routes, leading companies to seek longer and more expensive alternative routes. Moreover, there are concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could escalate, potentially destabilizing the broader Middle East region.
Houthis’ Red Sea attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoked fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread to destabilise the wider Middle East.
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