By Aldgra Fredly
A U.S. warship shot down “multiple one-way attack drones” fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen while it was cruising on the Red Sea on Nov. 23, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM, the U.S. military combatant command responsible for the Middle East, stated on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the USS Thomas Hudner shot down the drones while patrolling the Red Sea.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries resulting from the encounter. CENTCOM did not provide further details regarding the incident.
Tensions in the Red Sea have been rising following the Israel–Hamas conflict. On Nov. 15, the USS Thomas Hudner “engaged a drone that originated from Yemen and was heading in the direction of the ship.”
On Oct. 19, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney shot down three land attack cruise missiles and several drones launched from Yemen that were flying toward Israel. The U.S. Navy has attributed these drone and cruise missile launches to Houthi forces in Yemen.
On Nov. 14, the Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed that there have been 55 separate rocket and drone attacks targeting U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17. At least 59 U.S. service members have sustained injuries in these attacks.
The DOD has attributed the rocket and drone attacks in Iraq and Syria to various factions that it alleges have received backing from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Houthi Hijacks Israeli-Linked Ship
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to target Israeli-linked ships over the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
On Nov. 19, Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader commercial ship in the Red Sea and took its 25 crew members hostage.
The Houthis said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel and would continue to target ships in international waters that were linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel’s operation against Hamas.
The United States has condemned the ship’s seizure as “a flagrant violation of international law” and demanded the release of hostages.
“We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew, and we will consult with our allies and UN partners, as appropriate, on next steps,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Nov. 20.
Israeli officials insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated. However, ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel.
Ryan Morgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
