WASHINGTON — Late on Wednesday, a U.S. official confirmed that the United States had successfully targeted and destroyed up to 10 unmanned drones in Yemen that were on the verge of launching. This comes amidst the growing tensions in the region, fueled by the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a statement released by the U.S. military’s Central Command, it was revealed that a U.S. Navy ship had also intercepted and shot down three Iranian drones and a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported.
The Houthi militants, who are aligned with Iran and control the most densely populated regions of Yemen, have been launching a series of explosive drones and missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They claim this is a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and a demonstration of their support for the Palestinians.
As a result of the Houthi campaign, international shipping has been significantly disrupted.
In response to these attacks, the United States and Britain have initiated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and have reclassified the militia as a “terrorist group.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Houthis claimed that their naval forces had targeted an “American merchant ship” in the Gulf of Aden, just hours after launching missiles at the U.S. Navy destroyer Gravely.
The Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and its surrounding areas have not only slowed trade between Asia and Europe but also raised concerns about potential supply bottlenecks. Major powers are increasingly alarmed that the war in Gaza could escalate into a broader regional conflict.
President Joe Biden, earlier in January, stated that strikes on Houthi targets would persist, even though he acknowledged that these might not deter the Houthis from continuing their attacks.
The Israeli assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip was triggered by a surprise attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities. According to the Gaza health ministry, the ongoing conflict has led to nearly 27,000 deaths since then.
(Reported by Idrees Ali and Kanishka Singh; additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Eric Beech; Edited by Sandra Maler and Michael Perry)
Agree US taking necessary action to protect national security.
Disagree, civilian casualties must be prioritized and alternatives to military action explored.