The U.S. military reported neutralizing two drones in regions of Yemen under Houthi control following a ballistic missile launch by the Iran-supported rebels into the Gulf of Aden. These unmanned aerial systems posed a threat to coalition ships, prompting the military’s action.
The Pentagon didn’t provide any further details on the drones. The US military has several drones in Yemen, including armed MQ-9 Reaper surveillance aircraft and smaller UAVs used for reconnaissance. The UAVs have been used to strike enemy positions and conduct humanitarian aid missions and surveillance. In recent years, the military has seen several drones shot down by Houthis. At least four have been lost since the Houthis seized much of Yemen in 2014.
On Thursday, a destroyer fired multiple projectiles toward the drones, according to one official who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity. The official said the destroyer was operating in international waters near Yemen when the projectiles were fired. The projectiles didn’t cause any injuries or damage. The official said the destroyer fired on the drones after determining they were approaching the vessel.
Earlier on Thursday, the British warship HMS Diamond fired an anti-ship missile at a Houthi drone in the Gulf of Aden. The warship, which is based in Bahrain, has repeatedly deployed to the region and has used its Sea Viper and 30mm guns to shoot down a handful of Houthi drones over the past few years.
It isn’t clear whether the new drones targeted by CENTCOM were the same ones that were attacked by the British warship on Wednesday. A Houthi military spokesman said the rebels were attacking “US and Israeli ships” but didn’t provide any evidence of such an attack.
On Tuesday, the Houthis fired a barrage of drones and missiles at international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The weapons included 18 one-way attack drones and two anti-ship cruise missiles. One of the drones was hit, but CENTCOM said it didn’t cause any damage or injuries to vessels. Another was destroyed by an airstrike, which the Pentagon says did not cause any injuries or property damage.
CENTCOM says the US military has conducted four rounds of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen this year. The Biden administration earlier this year designated the rebels as a “specially designated global terrorist group,” reversing a decision from President Obama’s White House in February 2021 to lift the designation.
The United States is trying to restore power to the Yemeni government, which has been in exile in Saudi Arabia since 2014 when the Houthis seized the country’s capital, Sanaa. The Houthis have severed telecommunication cables and several maritime shipping lines in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Pentagon has said it is a priority to get Yemen back on its feet to protect its borders and restore vital humanitarian assistance and commercial services. That’s why the US has backed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in the country.