CNN –
According to U.S. Central Command, the U.S. carried out strikes Saturday against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and vessels, including the first unmanned underwater vessel the Iran-backed rebel group has deployed since attacks began in the Red Sea.
According to CENTCOM, the US carried out five strikes against three anti-ship cruise missiles, an unmanned underwater vessel and an unmanned surface vessel between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time on Saturday.
“CENTCOM identified the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned underwater vessel and unmanned surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and determined that they posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” Das said Central Command in a statement statement Sunday.
The unmanned underwater attack represents a new Houthi strategy and comes despite ongoing US airstrikes against the rebel group. Earlier this month, the US and Britain struck at least 30 Houthi targets in at least 10 locations in Yemen, aiming to “de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea.”
The Houthis have been attacking US targets and commercial vessels in the Red Sea since Israel began its invasion of Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7. There are fears the attacks could escalate Israel's war against Hamas into a larger regional conflict.
The Houthi attacks have forced some of the world's largest shipping and oil companies to halt transit through one of the most important maritime trade routes, potentially triggering a shock to the global economy.
CNN was aboard two ships last week that are leading the U.S. response to Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea, as the Navy works at a frantic pace to deploy jets and fire missiles at any time to try to restore weapons and infrastructure to destroy the Houthis.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN's Jack Forrest, Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, Haley Britzky and Christian Edwards.