WASHINGTON: The US military claimed on Thursday that Houthi forces have fired four drones and one anti-ship ballistic missile in their latest attack on vessels transiting the waterway off Yemen, but all were destroyed.
In a post on social media, the US Central Command stated the drones and missile were launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the red sea between 2 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. on March 13, 2024. The CENTCOM added that the attacks “did not impact any ships and there was no damage reported. It maintained that US naval forces in the region “successfully destroyed” the drones and missile.
The statement further said that these acts are taken to secure freedom of navigation and make international waters secure for US Navy and merchant ships. On Wednesday, US and British troops conducted air attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen, a day after the Iran-backed militia launched missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Earlier, CENTCOM said that the Houthis had fired a close-range missile at the US naval destroyer Laboon, but it did not attack the vessel. The UK and US, supported by other countries, had also launched several attacks on Houthi positions, targeting drone and missile launchers and depots, radar sites, and other infrastructure.
The assaults, however, has not stopped the Houthis, whose leaders had vowed to continue targeting vessels suspected of transporting goods to Israel. The Houthis expressed solidarity with Palestinians amid an Israeli attack in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
