Fears of an expansion of the conflict are growing. An American destroyer “operating in the northern Red Sea” shot down three surface-to-surface missiles and several drones on Thursday that were “potentially heading toward targets in Israel,” the Pentagon said. According to Washington, they were launched by the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels.
“To our knowledge, no injuries have been reported among USS Carney sailors or civilians on the ground,” the US Department of Defense said during a press conference.
The Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, sparking a war against government forces that has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions, plunging the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The interception of these drones and missiles comes against the backdrop of Washington’s increasing fears of Tehran’s direct involvement in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, which has already claimed several thousand lives.
Tensions in Iraq
The Lebanese Hezbollah, armed by Tehran, has been provoking the Israeli army for several days, which defends the border between the Hebrew state and the Cedar Land.
And Iraqi armed factions close to Iran have threatened in recent days to attack American interests in Iraq because of Washington’s support for Israel.
Drone attacks against US forces and the international coalition were even “foiled” in Iraq on Wednesday and the planes were “shot down”, resulting in minor injuries, American military authorities said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Saturday that the United States would send a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to “deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts to expand that war.”