US, UK Forces Shot Down 21 Missiles From Houthis, Says US Military (image@CENTCOM)
US and UK forces in the Red Sea has shot down 18 drones, two cruise missiles and one ballistic missile, which are fired by the Houthis on Tuesday. The missiles were fired towards international shipping lane in Southern Red Sea and is one of the largest Houthi attacks in the trade route, said US Central Command. No injuries were reported. This is the 26th attacks from the Houthis since November 19.
On its X handle (formerly twitter), US military said, the “Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting”.
CENTCOM said 14 countries including US had issued a joint statement on January 3, warning that Houthis will be responsible for the consequences, if the attacks that “threatens lives, global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways” continue.
Houthi Attack on International Shipping
On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled… pic.twitter.com/KWPRidwiWI
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 10, 2024
The Houthis started to attack busy maritime trade route through Suez Canal declaring their support for Hamas resistance group in Gaza. The Yemeni group claimed that they only target the shipping that have any link to Israel, and vowed to continue the attack until Netanyahu’s force stop the genocidal bombing in Gaza.
The disruption in maritime trade route has forced the shipping company to take longer route via the Cape of Good Hope of South Africa, leading to delay in the delivery time of the goods and skyrocketing frights. According to report from ShippingWatch, a Danish maritime news agency, shipping companies allegedly “bribed” Houthis seeking not to target their ships in the region.
