A significant attack was launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi forces last night from areas in Yemen into the Southern Red Sea. The target of the attack was the international shipping lanes, busy with dozens of merchant vessels.
The Houthis deployed a complex array of weapons, including Iranian-designed one-way attack Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile. In a coordinated defensive response, forces from the United States and the United Kingdom successfully neutralized the threat. Aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason, along with the UK’s HMS Diamond, collectively shot down eighteen UAVs, two cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile.
This incident marks the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. Despite the scale of the assault, there were no injuries or damage reported, indicating the effectiveness of the defensive measures taken by the allied forces.
The attack follows a joint statement issued on Jan. 3 by 14 countries, including the U.S., warning the Houthis of the consequences should they continue to pose threats to lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in crucial waterways of the region.
