US-led coalition downs 15 Yemen rebel drones

The U.S. military and its allies intercepted 15 drones aimed at the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, launched by Yemeni insurgents with ties to Iran. These attacks, acknowledged by the insurgents, targeted both a commercial vessel they claimed was American and U.S. naval forces in the area. This represents one of the largest efforts by the Houthi rebels to disrupt maritime activities since initiating a series of drone and missile assaults in November, aligning themselves with Palestinians amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

CENTCOM identified the operation as a significant threat to both merchant and naval ships, emphasizing efforts to maintain safe and open navigation in these critical waters. According to CENTCOM, a coordinated response from U.S. and coalition forces successfully neutralized 15 of the drones.

The Houthi spokesperson detailed the operations further, stating one attack targeted the Propel Fortune, a commercial ship flying the Singapore flag, and another launched dozens of drones at American warships. The United States, in response to ongoing Houthi assaults threatening the Red Sea’s vital trade route, introduced a maritime security initiative last December aimed at safeguarding the area.

Recent rebel activities have escalated to their first reported casualties, with two Filipino crew members killed in an attack on the True Confidence. Additionally, the conflict saw its first vessel sinking due to these strikes when the Rubymar was hit and subsequently sank in the Red Sea.

Despite U.S. and British retaliatory strikes on Houthi positions within Yemen, the rebels have maintained their aggressive stance against both commercial and military vessels. Yemen’s strategic importance, including control over parts of the Red Sea coast and the capital, remains a focal point of conflict, underscoring the complex and ongoing struggle in the region.