US, British, and French forces successfully defended against a series of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen. The US military reported that 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles were intercepted over the Red Sea early on Saturday. The coalition forces, including the US, took action to prevent what they deemed a significant threat to merchant vessels.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting a commercial ship, Propel Fortune, as well as several US destroyers. However, the US Central Command stated that no US or coalition military vehicles were damaged, and there were no reports of damage to commercial ships. The recent attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been ongoing since November, with the rebels claiming to be showing solidarity with Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond successfully intercepted two drones launched by the Houthis on Friday night. Shapps emphasized the commitment of the UK and its allies to protect navigation and save lives. The Ministry of Defence announced that the Houthi drone attack was fully repelled with no injuries or damage sustained.
A French warship and fighter jets also thwarted an attack by shooting down four drones targeting a European naval mission and a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. The mission was safeguarding the cargo ship True Confidence, which had been struck by a missile earlier, resulting in the deaths of three sailors. This incident marked the first fatalities in the recent wave of Houthi attacks.
The escalation of attacks by the Houthis has led to vessels in the Red Sea opting to divert around southern Africa instead of using the Suez Canal, increasing costs and posing potential economic risks globally. Despite previous strikes by the US and UK against Houthi-related sites, the threat to shipping remains persistent. The recent events highlight the ongoing challenges posed by the conflict in the region.
