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A U.S. warship in the Red Sea shot down at least three drones Sunday, according to a U.S. military statement, which said evidence pointed to militants in Yemen supported by Iran.
The shootdowns occurred as the Carney was responding to distress calls following four attacks against three commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said.
“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world,” Centcom said in a statement. “We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”
Brig. Gen. Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesman, said in a televised address that the attack was launched in solidarity with Palestinians. He said his Yemen-based force targeted the Unity Explorer and another ship “after they rejected warning messages from the Yemeni naval forces.”
“We renew our warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate the statements of our armed forces,” Sarea said. It was not clear what warning they gave in the most recent attacks. The Houthis are a rebel movement that controls much of Yemen’s north.
Hijacking attempt on Israel-linked ship thwarted by U.S. Navy
The first incident occurred at roughly 9:15 a.m. local time, when the Carney detected an anti-ship ballistic missile launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward a bulk cargo ship named Unity Explorer, “impacting in the vicinity of the vessel,” Centcom said.
About three hours later, the Carney shot down a drone “launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen,” Centcom said. “The drone was headed toward Carney although its specific target is not clear.”
In another attack, at 12:35 p.m., the Unity Explorer reported that it was struck by a missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, suffering minor damage, Centcom said. The Carney again responded to the distress call, and sailors detected another inbound drone and shot it down.
About 3:30 p.m., a container ship called Number 9 was struck by a missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, Centcom said. The company Bernhard Schulte, which manages the Number 9, confirmed the vessel was “hit by a projectile” while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. There were no reports of injuries or pollution, according to Kyle Fawkes, a crisis manager working for Bernhard Schulte.
An hour later, a third ship, the Sophie II, sent a distress call stating that it was hit by a missile. The Carney again responded to the incident and reported no significant damage, but once more shot down a drone “headed in its direction,” Centcom said.
Israel has no connection to the vessels involved in the incidents, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari told Reuters.
U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have faced near-daily assaults from rocket fire and one-way attack drones since Israeli operations in Gaza began, recording at least 76 attacks since Oct. 17, according to data provided by a U.S. defense official who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity citing the sensitivity of ongoing operations.
Some U.S. defense officials and lawmakers have aired frustrations that retaliatory airstrikes have not deterred Iran-backed militias from attacking U.S. troops. The United States has responded at times, including Sunday, when coalition forces in Iraq struck suspected militants preparing to launch a drone, killing all five, Centcom said.
Al-Mujahed reported from Sanaa, Yemen. John Hudson, Dan Lamothe and Kyle Rempfer contributed to this report.