US Navy, UK Royal Navy obstruct 18 Yemeni drones in Red Sea

(MENAFN) On Tuesday night, the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom successfully thwarted a significant Houthi assault in the Red Sea. They intercepted and destroyed 18 one-way drones and three missiles that were aimed at commercial ships.

The occurrence started at about 9:15 PM regional time when the Houthis deployed "Iranian-designed one-way attack" drones, "anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile," CENTCOM noted in a statement on social media. As reported by CENTCOM, the weaponry originated from regions in Yemen under Houthi control.

The Houthi missiles and drones were directed towards a zone traversed by numerous merchant vessels, as reported by CENTCOM on Tuesday night.

Fighter jets from the U.S. Navy carrier USS Eisenhower, along with three U.S. Navy destroyers and the U.K.'s HMS Diamond, successfully intercepted and shot down all of the drones and missiles, according to CENTCOM.

This incident on Tuesday night represents the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes since November 19.

Earlier this month, the United States, in collaboration with a coalition of allies, released a joint statement addressing the attacks, stating, "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."

In December, the Pentagon revealed the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational maritime task force designed to counter Houthi attacks.

The American and British warships that successfully countered the recent Houthi attack are actively involved in this operation.

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