US Warships Intercepts Houthi Attacks In Red Sea, Says US Central Command (image@ CENTCOM)
US warship intercept two Houthi missiles in the Red Sea, said US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM). The anti-ship ballistic missiles were said to be fired from the areas of Yemen, which was controlled by Houthis, into the international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea. No ships are reported to be impacted by the missiles.
CENTCOM said the “USS LABOON (DDG 58), which was patrolling the southern part of the Red Sea as part of the Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), “shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound to the USS LABOON”.
Two other vessels, reportedly “a Norwegian-flagged, owned and operated chemical tanker”, and a Gabon-owned Indian flagged crude oil tanker were also faced attacks from the Houthis. The Norwegian flagged vessel reported a near miss of the Houthi missile, while the Indian flagged vessel was hit by the missile. No injuries were reported from both. The attacks mark the “14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17”.
On December 23 two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles.
Between 3 and 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), the USS LABOON (DDG… pic.twitter.com/jcBisbXBaS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 24, 2023
The Houthis of Yemen has declared the attack on the shipments through the Red Sea as gesture support for Palestine. The group claimed to attack only ships carrying goods to Israel. They said the attack will not be stopped until Israel stops the genocidal war in Gaza. Container ships are thus forced to take the longer routes Africa, which demands heavy cost. Responding to the Houthi threat, US announced the formation of 10-nation coalition against the Iran aligned Yemeni group. The operation is named as Operation Prosperity Guardian.
