On Tuesday March 5, the United States shot down a missile and three drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting a US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea, announced the US military command for the Middle East (Centcom) .
“On March 5, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sanaa time, Centcom forces shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile and three [drones d’attaque] launched from areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis towards USS Carney in the Red Sea », Centcom said in a press releasespecifying that they had not recorded any injuries on board or damage to the ship.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said earlier in the day that their forces had targeted two US destroyers in the Red Sea. “with a number of naval missiles and drones”. The Houthis “will not stop until the aggression ceases and the siege imposed on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted”, he declared on social networks.
Expanded attacks
Since November, Yemeni rebels have said they are targeting ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they believe are linked to Israel, “solidarity” with the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip, in the grip of the war between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
Their attacks have forced many shipowners to suspend passage through this zone where 12% of world trade passes. In response, the United States, Israel’s supporter, set up a multinational maritime protection force in the Red Sea in December and launched, with the help of the United Kingdom, strikes in Yemen against the Houthis. The latter have since expanded their attacks to vessels linked to the United States or the United Kingdom.