US troops shot down two drones near the Red Sea on Thursday, CENTCOM reported.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a drone was shot down around 5 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) over the Gulf of Aden, which lies between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. No casualties were reported.
Five hours later, a military drone was spotted heading toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and fired upon after US forces “determined it posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region,” resulting in what CENTCOM called “significant secondary explosions.”
The drone attacks were followed by the launch of two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen.
CENTCOM said they were likely aimed at the Liberian-flagged container ship M/V Koi, but fell into the water without hitting the ship. No injuries or damage were reported.
Since November, Yemeni Houthis have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, especially those bound for Israel. They say their attacks are aimed at pressuring Israel to halt its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, prompting the US and Britain to launch retaliatory airstrikes on targets inside Yemen since January.
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea lanes for transporting oil and fuel. It allows ships travelling between Europe and Asia to avoid the much longer and more costly sea route around the southern tip of Africa through Egypt’s Suez Canal.
