At least two commercial ships are believed to have been hit by drones and missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen…reports Asian Lite News
The United States said on Tuesday said that it had shot down twelve attack drones and five missiles, which it claimed were launched by the Iran-backed Houthis.
There was no damage to ships in the area or injuries reported, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
“U.S. assets, to include the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis over a 10 hour period which began at approximately 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on December 26. There was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” the US CENTCOM posted on X.
The USS Laboon, a guided-missile destroyer, and F-18 fighter jets from the Eisenhower carrier strike group are in the southern Red Sea as part of a US-led coalition meant to protect shipping lanes from attack by the Houthis in the key Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to The Times of Israel.
The US announcement followed the Israel Defence Forces’ statement on downing a “hostile aerial target” heading toward Israel, monitored by the IAF’s air traffic control. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed firing drones at Eilat in solidarity with Gaza.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari termed the attacks “acts of terror” directed by Iran.
“This is an act that is carried out under Iranian directives,” he added.
The IDF released footage of the interception off Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula coast.
Witnesses cited by Egyptian media said they saw something fall into the Gulf of Aqaba, near Dahab.
Al Qahera News television, which has links to state intelligence, stated that blasts were heard about two kilometres from the Egyptian seaside town of Dahab, which lies around 125 kilometres south of Eilat, as reported by The Times of Israel.
No casualties or damage were reported. Al-Arabiya’s footage showed the aerial interception. The Houthis claimed a missile strike on MSC UNITED and launched drones at southern Israel. Yemen’s Houthis have launched several drone and missile attacks at Israel, with most intercepted.
The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, after thousands of Hamas terrorists crossed the border, and killed scores of Israelis.
Houthis claim solidarity with Gaza, reporting over 20,900 killed.
At least two commercial ships are believed to have been hit by drones and missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday as the militia’s leaders pledged to confront a US-led international naval task force in the Red Sea.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations authority received information from a ship on Tuesday afternoon saying an explosion had been heard and missiles spotted 60 nautical miles from Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeida.
An alert was also issued three hours earlier by UKMTO saying that a vessel had reported two explosions 15 minutes after seeing drones roughly 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah.
The Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks as of late Tuesday.
The Yemen militia has launched ballistic missiles and drones against commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea in a bid to force Israel to end its assault on Gaza.
Houthi threats to hit Israeli-linked vessels have forced some major shipping firms, including Maersk and MSC, to reroute ships away from the key trade route.
The US is leading a global task force coalition to protect the crucial maritime link from Houthi strikes.
At the same time, the Houthis have repeated their threat to strike US-led forces or any other group if Yemen is attacked or if action is taken to stop the militia targeting ships bound for Israel.
Mohammed Al-Ateifi, Houthi defense minister, claimed his fighters are in “full combat readiness” to deal with any military response from the US or other countries, and vowed to continue missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“The ranges of our strategic deterrent weapons exceed what the enemies expect, and there are no red lines in front of us. All options are available,” the Houthi military leader told a meeting of commanders in Sanaa on Monday.
Meanwhile, Somali pirates captured a vessel carrying 43 Yemeni fishermen 30 miles off the Somali coastline area of Hafun on Sunday, according to Yemeni fishermen in the Red Sea Khokha region in Yemen.
Pirates sailed the seized boat to Somalia, where they freed 34 of the captives and sailed away with the remaining nine, heading to international waters.
“Those fishermen have a license from the Somali authorities to fish in Somali water,” said a relative of one of the abducted fishermen, who asked to remain anonymous.
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