In one of their most complex attacks to date, Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea on Tuesday, US Central Command said in a statement.
On January 9, at approximately 9:15 pm local time, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (OVA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. . towards international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea. It occurred while dozens of merchant ships were transiting.
This is the largest drone and missile attack by the Houthis since they began attacking commercial ships in November, a US official confirmed to Fox News.
It is also the Houthi’s 26th attack on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea since November 19.
US-LED COALITION WARNS HUTHIS AND PROMOTES ‘CONSEQUENCES’ OF RED SEA ATTACKS
The guided missile destroyer USS Carney in Souda Bay, Greece. The US warship and several commercial ships were attacked on Sunday, December 3, 2023 in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said, which could mark a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Middle East related to the war between Israel and Hamas. ((Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dodge/U.S. Navy via AP)
In a statement published on X, US Central Command said the US military presence in the Red Sea was able to prevent injuries or damage.
A combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34) . shot down 18 OWA unmanned aerial vehicles, two anti-ship cruise missiles and the anti-ship ballistic missile.
This is a location map of Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)
It comes after 14 countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement on January 3 saying: “The Houthis will take responsibility for the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy or the free flow of commerce in the waterways.” criticism of the region”.
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This photo released by the Houthi Media Center shows a Houthi forces helicopter approaching the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Yemen’s Houthis seized the ship in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen after threatening with seizing all the ships of his property. by Israeli companies. (Houthi Media Center via AP)
The United States was joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore and New Zealand in Wednesday’s statement. The nations said the destabilization of trade across the Red Sea is “unacceptable” and promised consequences.
“The current Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilizing. There is no legal justification for intentionally attacking civilian vessels and warships. Attacks on ships, including commercial vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small “ships and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the foundation of global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” the nations wrote.
Members of the Yemeni Coast Guard affiliated with the Houthi group patrol the sea as protesters march through the Red Sea port city of Hodeida in solidarity with the people of Gaza on January 4, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza. (AFP via Getty Images)
“Let our message now be clear: we call for an immediate end to these illegal attacks and the release of illegally detained ships and crews. The Houthis will take responsibility for the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of trade. in the region’s critical waterways. We remain committed to the rules-based international order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for illegal seizures and attacks,” the statement continued.
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The second major Houthi attack took place in November, when the USS Carney shot down 15 drones and four cruise missiles.
Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
