Houthis almost attack oil tankers in Gulf of Aden; U.S. and coalition forces shut down additional unilateral attack drones

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The US Central Command said on Sunday that the Houthis fired an anti-ballistic missile at a tanker carrying oil and chemicals in the Gulf of Aiden on Saturday. However, it hit the water and caused no damage to the ship or injuries to those on board.

In a post on The ship was in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the incident, which reportedly occurred at 11:45 p.m. local time.

At approximately 9 p.m. that evening, U.S. Central Command forces shot down two unilateral unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Red Sea in self-defense.

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Central Command said a third UAV also flew toward the area and crashed due to an apparent flight failure.

US and coalition forces destroy six unilateral Houthi attack drones

A protester holds a model of a Houthi missile during a protest against the US-led airstrikes and sanctions against the Houthi group in Sanaa, Yemen, February 16, 2024. (Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua via Getty Images)

“CENTCOM forces identified the UAVs and determined that they posed an imminent threat to commercial vessels and U.S. Navy vessels in the region,” Central Command said. “These actions are being taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for the U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”

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Despite efforts by the United States and its allies to protect commercial vessels, Houthi attacks continue to occur in the region.

On Thursday, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, but this time the missiles hit the MV Islander, a Palau-flagged British freighter, causing minor injury and damage.

Greek-flagged MS SEA CHAMPION SUFFERS SLIGHT DAMAGE IN HOUTHI missile attack

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U.S. Central Command said the USS Mason shot down an anti-ship missile fired into the Gulf of Aden on Saturday. (US Central Command, @CENTCOM on X)

The attack came after the Pentagon confirmed that the Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen on Monday. This was the second such attack since November 2023.

Iran-backed Houthi terrorists also fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles on Monday at a Greek-flagged ship bound for Yemen to deliver grain, according to U.S. Central Command.

CARGO SHIP “TAKING ON WATER” AFTER A HOUTHI ATTACK IN THE GULF OF ADEN

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In this photo provided by the Indian Navy on Saturday, January 27, 2024, the Marlin Luanda oil tanker is seen burning in the Gulf of Aden following an attack. The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker that was hit by a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels battles a fire aboard the stricken ship that was sparked by the attack. (Indian Navy via AP)

Despite minor damage to the U.S. M/V Sea Champion, the ship continued its course to Aden, Yemen, where it ultimately delivered grain for the benefit of the Yemeni people.

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Central Command said the M/V Sea Champion has delivered humanitarian aid to the country 11 times in the past five years.

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Fox News' Greg Norman and Liz Friden contributed to this report.