The US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen, according to a statement from US Central Command, in one of the largest Houthi attacks to take place in the Red Sea in recent months.
The military has labeled it a “complex attack” executed by Iranian-backed militants. The onslaught, initiated around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday in Yemen, involved 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile, as reported by Central Command. The target of the attack was international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea, where “dozens” of merchant vessels were navigating, according to the official statement.
Contrary information from two defense officials disclosed to CNN suggested a total of 24 drones and missiles were part of the barrage.
Remarkably, despite the intensity of the drone and missile launch, there were no reported damages to ships and no injuries resulting from the attack, according to CENTCOM. The US Navy shot
In the interception of the barrage, three destroyers played a crucial role, as stated by one of the officials. Two U.S. destroyers and F-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier joined forces in the coordinated effort to shoot down the missiles and drones, according to Central Command. Adding an international dimension to the operation, the HMS Diamond, an air defense destroyer from the UK’s Royal Navy, was also actively involved.
The collective defense effort unfolded in the Red Sea, where the U.S. and other nations maintain a presence as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. This multinational initiative aims to safeguard shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways, involving over 20 countries in the coalition.
Notably, these events occurred while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Middle East, attempting to manage the Gaza war and prevent a broader regional escalation. During his visit to Israel on Tuesday, Blinken emphasized the need for allowing Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes “as soon as conditions allow.” He has consistently urged the Israeli government to minimize civilian casualties resulting from the bombardment of Gaza.
The Iran-backed Houthis claim that their drone and missile launches are expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The initial wave of attacks, coinciding with the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, targeted commercial vessels with ties to Israel. According to Central Command, the Houthis have conducted a total of 26 attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea to date.