AL-MUKALLA: The US Central Command on Sunday said that its forces had destroyed two remote controlled explosive-laden boats of the Houthis and their three anti-ship cruise missiles in Hodeidah province of Yemen.
The development comes as the Yemeni group has reduced its strikes in the Red Sea during the previous 96 hours.
The CENTCOM in a post on X said, the US military conducted strikes on Saturday afternoon, hitting two boats, also known as unmanned surface vessels, and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles north of Hodeidah, foiling Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea
“CENTCOM identified these USVs and missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” it said.
The Houthis had said that the US and UK carried out three attacks in the Al-Salif region, northwest of Hodeidah.
CENTCOM, said that it had destroyed two explosive-laden Houthi drone boats as well as five cruise missiles that had been ready for fire against US and global commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea on Friday.
Feb. 10 Summary of USCENTCOM Self-Defense Strikes in Yemen
On Feb. 10, between 4 – 5 p.m., (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully conducted self-defense strikes against two unmanned surface vessels (USV) and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM)… pic.twitter.com/8OMJRXiw79
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 11, 2024
The latest barrage of US strikes on Hodeidah came as the Iran-backed group has yet to claim responsibility for new attacks on ships in the Bab Al-Mandab, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, despite their leaders threatened to conduct missile and drone attacks on US, UK and Israel-linked ships until Israel strops its siege of Gaza and the US and UK cease their attacks on their territory.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, which documents ship attacks, has issued no fresh maritime security alerts since last Tuesday.
Since November, the Houthis have used explosive-laden drones, remotely controlled drone boats and ballistic missiles at navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea and other international waters near Yemen. The group claims its actions are in support of Palestine and to pressurize Israel to lift its siege on Gaza.
