On Saturday, a U.S. warship successfully intercepted and shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea, while a Royal Navy destroyer thwarted another drone targeting commercial ships. Tensions escalated in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels' drones attacked U.S. and British warships.
The U.S. Central Command reported that the destroyer USS Carney engaged and neutralized 14 unmanned aerial systems launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, with no damage to ships or reported injuries.
Meanwhile, U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps stated that HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile, destroying a drone that posed a threat to merchant shipping. This marks the Royal Navy's first instance of shooting down an aerial target since the 1991 Gulf War.
Houthi rebels in Yemen have been conducting a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a crucial global shipping route. The group has also launched drones and missiles, targeting Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shapps emphasized that attacks on commercial ships by Houthi rebels pose a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. He reiterated the U.K.'s commitment to repel such attacks to safeguard the free flow of global trade.
HMS Diamond, deployed to the region as a deterrent, joined forces with vessels from the U.S., France, and other nations. The Red Sea has witnessed heightened threats to global shipping during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, further exacerbated by the actions of Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran.
In a related development, Houthi rebels claimed to have launched a barrage of drones towards the port city of Eilat in southern Israel. These events add to the growing concerns over trade security in the region, with container ships and oil tankers facing attacks while navigating the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Recent missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea prompted major shipping companies, such as CMA CGM Group and Maersk, to order a pause in their vessels' journeys through the region. The Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, indicated ongoing discussions with international parties, brokered by Oman, concerning the rebels' attacks in the Red and Arabian seas. Abdel-Salam stressed the Houthis' commitment to targeting Israel-linked vessels until aggression ceases and the Gaza siege is lifted, suggesting that humanitarian efforts could contribute to de-escalation.
