New strikes by the US military in Yemen have targeted ten drones that are part of the Houthi rebels, who are allied with Iran, as well as a ground control center.
The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a statement that it had attacked 10 Houthi one-way UAVs and a “Houthi UAV ground control station” on Thursday because they “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region.”
It also stated, “This action will safeguard the right to free navigation and increase the safety and security of international waters for US Navy and merchant vessels.”
The group raised concerns about the rising tensions in the region and the increased disruption to global trade on Wednesday by declaring that all US and British warships engaged in “aggression” against Yemen are targets.
Prior to this, CENTCOM said that the USS Carney had destroyed three Iranian drones in less than an hour and intercepted an antiship ballistic missile fired by the Houthis.
It wasn’t made clear if these drones were attack or surveillance models.
Hours after firing missiles at the US Navy destroyer Gravely, the Houthis claimed on Wednesday that their naval forces had struck a “American merchant ship” in the Gulf of Aden.
Although outright conflict between the US and Iran has been avoided, the US has recently initiated strikes on the Houthis and other groups in the Middle East that are affiliated with Iran.
In a stark contrast to previous airstrikes that have concentrated on the group’s potential to impact international shipping in the Red Sea, CENTCOM announced on Wednesday that forces had destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that presented a threat to “US aircraft”.
The Houthis, who rule over the most populated areas of Yemen, started attacking Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea in November, claiming it was a show of support for Hamas and solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
