A U.S. Navy warship shot down more than a dozen terrorist drones fired by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists based in Yemen that were operating over the Red Sea on Saturday as attacks against U.S. forces and large commercial shipping vessels continues to escalate.
“In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. “The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.”
U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that HMS Diamond also shot down one of the terrorist drones on Saturday.
“HMS Diamond, one of the Navy’s most advanced warships, swiftly intercepted and neutralised a potential threat to merchant vessels in the Red Sea using a Sea Viper missile,” the British Military said. “Alongside @RoyalNavy , we remain steadfast in safeguarding the lawful passage of ships in the region.”
HMS Diamond, one of the Navy's most advanced warships, swiftly intercepted and neutralised a potential threat to merchant vessels in the Red Sea using a Sea Viper missile.
Alongside @RoyalNavy, we remain steadfast in safeguarding the lawful passage of ships in the region. pic.twitter.com/9GGnF1PAaZ
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 16, 2023
The incident on Saturday followed multiple Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea on Friday.
Early Friday morning, “Houthi forces contacted the Motor Vessel MSC ALANYA, a Liberian flagged vessel that was traveling north in the southern part of the Red Sea and threatened to attack it,” CENTCOM said. “The Houthis directed the vessel to turn around and proceed south. Although there were no U.S. ships in the area, U.S. forces maintained direct communications with the vessel, and the ALANYA continued north.”
About two hours later, “a UAV launched from Houthi held territory struck the Liberian flagged Motor Vessel AL JASRAH as it was travelling south in the Red Sea,” the statement said. “The AL JASRAH immediately broadcast a mayday signal that said the crew was fighting a fire caused by the attack.”
Approximately four hours later, “Houthi forces launched two ballistic missiles towards the international shipping lanes in the Bab el-Mandeb strait,” the statement concluded. “One of these missiles struck the Liberian flagged MV PALATIUM 3, which broadcast a mayday call and reported that the vessel was on fire. The USS MASON has responded to that request. The other missile likely missed any ships.”