The American destroyer USS Carney passes through the Suez Canal en route to the Red Sea on November 26, 2023 (US Department of Defense / Aaron Lau)
The U.S. military said Tuesday that it had intercepted numerous drones and missiles in the southern Red Sea fired by the Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group that said it had targeted a boat in addition to Israel.
The United States, along with an international coalition, is patrolling this strategic region of the world to protect maritime traffic from attacks by the Houthis, who say they are showing solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas in its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, U.S. forces stationed in the region “downed 12 attack drones, three anti-ship missiles and two cruise missiles fired by the Houthis in the southern Red Sea” during a period of “approximately 10 a.m.” the US Center East Command (Centcom) said.
Some intercepts were conducted by fighter jets operating from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, which was on site, Centcom said.
“There was no damage to boats in the area and no injuries were reported,” Centcom said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
– Israel in sight –
The Houthi rebels had previously asserted in a statement that they had carried out “a targeted operation against a merchant ship” called MSC UNITED and “launched drones against military targets” in southern Israel.
The Israeli army said it intercepted “an enemy air target” heading toward its territory.
Since the war began on October 7 between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, the Houthis have carried out increased attacks in the Red Sea on ships off the coast of Yemen with alleged ties to Israel in solidarity with Gaza.
In recent weeks, several missiles and drones have been shot down by American, French and British warships patrolling the area.
According to the Pentagon, the Houthis, who control entire swathes of Yemeni territory, including the capital Sanaa, have already launched around a hundred drone and missile attacks, targeting a total of 10 merchant ships from more than 35 countries.
Iran was “heavily involved in the planning” of the Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea, the White House said on Friday.
Graphic showing where ships reported damage in the Red Sea around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in December (AFP / Olivia BUGAULT)
These attacks, which threaten to disrupt the flow of global maritime trade along a strategic route, have prompted the United States to establish a multinational maritime defense force in the Red Sea.
Earlier on Tuesday, explosions were heard and rockets were heard near a ship in the Red Sea near Hodeida, a rebel-held port in western Yemen, Britain's maritime safety agency UKMTO said, without reporting any casualties or damage.
Two other explosions occurred shortly before near another ship, also off the coast of Hodeida, with no damage or casualties reported, the British Maritime Authority said. The boat continued its journey.