Houthi rebels in Yemen launched multiple missiles and drones towards commercial vessels in the Red Sea on Tuesday night, according to the Pentagon. The attack, which was the latest in a series of ongoing assaults, originated from Houthi-controlled areas and was reportedly aimed at ships in the area.
Despite the attack, no damage or injuries were reported as U.S. Central Command successfully shot down eighteen drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile that were launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
U.S. military forces, including fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower and the missile destroyers USS Gravely, USS Laboon, and USS Mason, along with the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond, coordinated their efforts to bring down the drones and missiles.
While the exact target of the attack was unclear, there were several commercial ships in the vicinity at the time, according to a U.S. official. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, claimed that the attack was aimed at a U.S. ship “providing support” to Israel amid its war against Hamas in Gaza.
The Houthi militant group has been carrying out similar attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea since October 7 when Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel. Tuesday’s strikes marked the 26th such attack on Red Sea shipping lanes since November 19, as reported by CENTCOM.
In response to the attacks, energy giant BP temporarily suspended all gas and oil shipments in the Red Sea. Additionally, Ikea warned that it could face shortages as major shippers were forced to bypass the Red Sea, which is a vital trade route between Europe and Asia.
The White House has accused Tehran of being involved in the Houthi’s Red Sea attacks, emphasizing Iran’s alleged support for the Houthi group. However, Iran has repeatedly denied these allegations. The tensions in the region have further escalated due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with the U.S. providing support to Israel.
The U.S. military has been advocating for an international task force to protect commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea in response to the escalating attacks.