US says four drones and a Houthi anti-ship missile were destroyed

Washington: Houthi rebels’ assaults on Red Sea commerce resumed on Wednesday when US-led coalition troops off the coast of Yemen shot down four drones and an anti-ship missile, according to US officials. The group is supported by Iran.

Just before noon Sanaa time (0900 GMT), a coalition warship “successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)” fired from Houthi-held regions of Yemen, according to a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, previously Twitter.

The US-flagged merchant ship MV Yorktown was most likely the target of the missile, according to CENTCOM, which also said that there were no casualties or damages.

Since November, the Houthis, who hold sway over a large portion of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, have carried out many missile and drone attacks aimed against ships, claiming their activities are in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Shortly after the missile launch, CENTCOM stated it had engaged and destroyed four drones that the Houthis had fired.

“It was determined that the ASBM and UAVs (drones) presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” claimed CENTCOM.

The Houthis have announced that US and British interests are valid targets in retaliation for US and British military strikes on them after their assaults on ships.