Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the US and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement, authorities said yesterday.
No damage was immediately reported.
The attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis came despite a planned UN Security Council vote after press time last night to potentially condemn and demand an immediate halt to the attacks by the rebels, who say their assaults are aimed at stopping Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Photo: Reuters
However, their targets increasingly have tenuous — or no — relationship with Israel and imperil a crucial trade route linking Asia and the Middle East to Europe.
The assault happened off the Yemeni port cities of Hodeida and Mokha, private intelligence firm Ambrey said.
In the Hodeida attack, Ambrey said ships described over radio seeing missiles and drones, with US-allied warships in the area urging “vessels to proceed at maximum speed.”
Off Mokha, ships saw missiles fired, a drone in the air and small vessels trailing them, Ambrey said.
UK Marine Trade Operations also acknowledged the attack off Hodeida.
The US military’s Central Command said that the “complex attack” launched by the Houthis included bomb-carrying drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile.
It said 18 drones, two cruise missiles and the anti-ship missile were downed by F-18s from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as by Arleigh Burke-class destroyers the USS Gravely, the USS Laboon and the USS Mason, as well as the UK’s HMS Diamond.
“This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19,” Central Command said. “There were no injuries or damage reported.”
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity,” UK Marine Trade Operations said.
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