US Shoot Downs Drone off Yemen, Strikes Unmanned Surface Vessel in Red Sea

Defense News ,Red Sea :- In a recent development, American forces successfully intercepted and neutralized potential threats in the Red Sea. The US military announced that they shot down a drone off the coast of Yemen on Thursday and later destroyed an unmanned surface vessel carrying explosives, which posed a danger to ships in the region.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched two anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea, targeting a cargo ship. Fortunately, the missiles did not hit their intended target.

The heightened Houthi military activity and increased US strikes and shootdowns in recent days present new challenges for Washington. The US government is preparing to deliver a decisive response following the killing of three American soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan over the weekend.

While both the United States and Iran aim to avoid all-out war, Washington seeks to deter further attacks without triggering direct conflict. CENTCOM disclosed that a drone was shot down over the Gulf of Aden, and the Houthis were held responsible for the explosives-laden surface vessel, resulting in "significant secondary explosions" but no reported damage or injuries.

In response to the escalating situation, the United States destroyed 10 Houthi drones and a ground control station. Additionally, an American warship intercepted a missile fired by the rebels and three Iranian drones the day before.

Houthi aggression in the Red Sea, targeting shipping since November, has prompted US and UK forces to retaliate with strikes against the rebels. The Houthis, in turn, have declared American and British interests as legitimate targets.

The ongoing tensions were further fueled when Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on social media that rebels targeted a British commercial ship in the Red Sea. However, this incident could not be immediately independently confirmed.

In response to the challenges posed by Houthi actions, the United States established a multinational naval task force to safeguard shipping on the critical transit route, responsible for up to 12 percent of global trade.

The situation is complicated by the growing anger across the Middle East over Israel's campaign in Gaza, leading to increased violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.