WASHINGTON: The US Central Command (US CENTCOM) has said that American forces have destroyed a Houthi drone and a support vehicle in Yemen. The action carried out within the past 24 hours was aimed at mitigating threats to US and coalition forces merchant vessels navigating the region, US CENTCOM stated.
According to a statement released on the social media platform X, US CENTCOM stated, “In the past 24 hours, our forces successfully destroyed one Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and one support vehicle in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.”
The military command said that these systems posed an imminent threat to both US and coalition forces and to international maritime traffic in the region.
The targeted drone and support vehicle were reportedly part of the Houthi group’s broader campaign of attacks against maritime targets.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have intensified their assaults using anti-ship missiles and drones, claiming to target ships they allege are “Israeli-linked” in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks are intended as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Houthi attacks have resulted in significant damage to dozens of cargo ships, raising concerns over maritime security and the safety of international shipping lanes.
In response to the escalating threat, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the region has been conducting regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen since January.
