According to US Central Command’s social media post on X, US forces destroyed seven drones and a vehicle for the control station in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled areas within the past 24 hours.
These strikes happened after the drones and vehicles posed imminent threats to American coalition forces and merchant ships located near there.
Since 2023 November, Houthis that are supported by Iran have been targeting Red Sea and Gulf of Aden vessels, claiming that their attacks were in favor of Palestine during Israel-Hamas war in Gaza Strip.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree took responsibility for striking four vessels including Delonix tanker in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles.
However United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said five missiles were fired “in close proximity” to Delonix, which had no damage.
At the time of attack, the tanker was positioned about 150 nautical miles (277 kilometers) northwest of Hodeida port controlled by Houthis.
Huthis also stated attacking Johannes Maersk container ship as well as Waler oil tanker into Mediterranean Sea and Ioannis bulk carrier into Red Sea.
In December, America introduced a maritime security initiative to prevent Houthi raids on the Red Sea, which made commercial ships head along another way instead thereby disrupting twelve percent of world commerce flow through it routinely used route.
CENTCOM has said that last Friday’s strike was conducted “to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.”
They further said “This continued malign and reckless behaviour by the Iranian-backed Huthis threatens regional stability and endangers lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
As a result of these attacks, insurance premiums have risen sharply for shipping moving through this region forcing many shipping firms to go around Africa’s Cape instead.
