US and UK forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, the US military said.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement: “Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs… anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea.”
The force said no injuries or damage were reported, adding that this was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the region since November 19.
Grant Shapps, the British defence secretary, said it was the “largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date”.
On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Deploying Sea Viper missiles and guns, [HMS] Diamond destroyed multiple attack drones heading for her and commercial shipping in the area, with no injuries or damage sustained to Diamond or her crew.”
The incident came ahead of a scheduled vote at the United Nations Security Council on a resolution that would demand an immediate halt to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Last week, 12 nations, led by the US, warned the Houthis of consequences unless they immediately halted targeting ships in the region.
The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks until Israel halts the conflict in Gaza, and warned that it would attack US warships if the group itself was targeted.
Various shipping lines have meanwhile suspended operations in the region, instead taking the longer journey around Africa.
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Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
