Houthis Launch Missile, Drone Attack on US Navy Vessel in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi group has launched a significant offensive against a US navy vessel in the Red Sea, claiming that the latter was assisting Israel. The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, announced Wednesday the deployment of a “large batch” of ballistic and naval missiles, along with drones, in what he described as a “preliminary response” to a US action against Houthi ships on December 31, 2023. Residents of Al Hudaydah, a Yemeni port city on the Red Sea, reported seeing multiple drones and missiles in the night sky, accompanied by explosions and fireballs, causing widespread panic.

The US Central Command confirmed the attack, specifying that 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were launched from Houthi-controlled territory. These projectiles targeted international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea, amid heavy merchant vessel traffic. US and British naval forces collaborated to intercept and neutralize all 21 projectiles, preventing injuries or damage.

This incident marks the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19, according to the US Central Command. The Houthis have intensified their assaults on Israel-linked ships following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza.