United States and British naval forces shot down 21 attack drones and missiles that were launched Tuesday by Houthi terrorists in Yemen toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
In a statement released on social media, U.S. Central Command explained that the Houthi attack took place around 9:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Describing the incident as a “complex attack,” Central Command noted that the attack included Iranian-designed attack drones, an anti-ship ballistic missile, and anti-ship cruise missiles.
According to Central Command, the missiles and attack drones were launched toward “international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting” in the Red Sea. No damage or injuries were reported in the attack.
“Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34),” Central Command wrote in Tuesday’s statement.
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Central Command noted that Tuesday’s incident was the 26th Houthi attack launched against commercial shipping lanes located in the Red Sea since November 19.
Central Command also shared a joint statement that was first released on January 3 by 14 countries, warning, “The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”
In a post on social media, United Kingdom Defense Secretary Grant Shapps described Tuesday’s attack as “the largest attack on a Royal Navy warship in decades.”
According to Reuters, Shapps told reporters the current situation in the Middle East is “an unsustainable situation.” The British defense secretary hinted that additional action by the United Kingdom and its allies in response to Tuesday’s attack was possible.
Shapps warned, “This cannot continue and cannot be allowed to continue.”
