Several missiles and drones were launched towards commercial ships in the Red Sea Houthi-controlled areas The Pentagon said that the attack on Yemen on Tuesday night was the latest in a series of such attacks that have been ongoing for months. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
US Central Command reported that 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels at approximately 9:15 p.m. local time were successfully shot down.
The drones and missiles were shot down by a “joint effort” of fighter planes from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower and the missile destroyers USS Gravely, USS Labone and USS Mason, along with the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond.
A US official told CBS News that it was not clear what the drones and missiles were targeting, but that there were several commercial ships in the area.
Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, said on Wednesday that the group fired a “large number” of missiles and drones at an American ship “providing support” to Israel amid its war against Hamas in Gaza.
The Houthi armed group – which controls large parts of Yemen – has been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea since the Palestinian Hamas movement launched its October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and sparking the attack. . The current one The war between Israel and Hamas. In response, the US Army Payment has been made To form an international task force to protect commercial ships crossing the Red Sea.
US Central Command said Tuesday's strikes marked the 26th Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping lanes since November 19.
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On December 30, US Central Command said the USS Graveley shot down two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis while responding to aid the Maersk Hangzhou container ship, which was hit by a Houthi missile.
No one was injured in that missile strike. However, several hours later, early on December 31, four Houthi boats attacked the Hangzhou ship – owned by Denmark but sailing under the Singaporean flag – in an attempt to board it.
US Central Command said US forces returned fire, sinking three of the four Houthi boats and killing their crew.
White House The accused last month Tehran is “deeply involved” in Houthi attacks on the Red Sea, a claim by Iran’s deputy foreign minister to reject.
in November 15 interview with CBS NewsIranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian also denied that Iran was responsible A drone launched from Yemen Shot down by the guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner. US officials said at the time that the drone appeared to be targeting the Hudner's ship.
“We didn't really want to expand this crisis,” Amir Abdollahian told CBS News, referring to the war between Israel and Hamas. “But the United States is working to intensify the war in Gaza by throwing its support behind Israel. Yemen makes its own decisions and acts independently.”
In response to the attacks, energy giant BP said last month It temporarily suspended all gas and oil shipments In the Red Sea. And home furnishing giant IKEA He also said They may soon face shortages because major shipping companies have had to bypass the Red Sea – a vital link between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean and the shortest trade route between Europe and Asia – according to the Freights Baltic Index.
— Eleanor Watson and Elizabeth Napolitano contributed to this report.
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