US Shoots Down Drone, Anti-Ship Missile Fired By Houthi Rebels In Red Sea

Houthi rebels have targeted vessels in the crucial Red Sea shipping lane, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza. However, on Thursday, US intercepted a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile.

The United States on Thursday intercepted a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as reported by AFP. The militant group has frequently targeted vessels in the crucial Red Sea shipping lane, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza.

In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the USS Mason (DDG 87), a guided-missile destroyer, successfully shot down both the drone and the anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea. CENTCOM noted that none of the 18 ships in the vicinity suffered damage, and there were no reported injuries. This incident marks the 22nd attempted attack on international shipping by the Huthis since mid-October.

This development follows a day after the US military forces thwarted more than a dozen attack drones and several missiles fired by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, as disclosed by the Pentagon on Tuesday. The US Central Command reported no injuries during that particular incident.

According to the AFP report, these attacks pose a threat to a transit route responsible for transporting up to 12 percent of global trade. In response, the United States established a multinational naval task force earlier in the month to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels claim responsibility for these attacks, asserting that they target vessels associated with Israel or Israeli interests, aiming to apply pressure to cease the offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The recent escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict began with a surprise cross-border attack by the Palestinian militant group from Gaza on October 7. This attack resulted in the death of approximately 1,140 people, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on figures provided by Israel. Subsequently, the US swiftly provided military aid to Israel, which has conducted extensive attacks in Gaza, resulting in the reported deaths of at least 21,320 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, as per AFP.

These deaths have sparked widespread outrage across the Middle East, serving as a catalyst for armed groups opposing Israel to intensify their attacks. 

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