The United States has declared that it successfully intercepted and shot down four drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Simultaneously, the United Kingdom’s leading diplomat characterized Iran, a key ally of the rebel group, as a “malign influence.”
The USS Laboon guided-missile destroyer executed the interception of the drones, which were approaching the vessel. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damage from the incident, as stated by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday.
The USS Laboon responded to distress calls from both a Norwegian-flagged oil tanker and an Indian-flagged crude oil tanker that were under attack. The incidents mark the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17, according to CENTCOM.
In addition to the drone attacks on shipping, the Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea. Fortunately, no vessels were struck in these attacks, as confirmed by CENTCOM. it successfully intercepted
Separately, the US Defense Department reported that a drone launched from Iran targeted a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday. Luckily, no casualties were reported in this incident.
Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had mentioned that a drone exploded near a vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located off the coast of Yemen.
Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Djibouti in East Africa, emphasized that the recent incident underscores the global impact of the conflict in Gaza, highlighting that it is not confined to regional boundaries.
Regarding the drone incident in the Indian Ocean, Serdar noted that clarity is lacking regarding whether the drone attacked the vessel or was engaged in surveillance activities. This uncertainty adds to the complexity of understanding the events surrounding the reported drone strike in the region.