US Navy Intercepts Dozens of Drones, Missiles Launched From Yemen in Red Sea in 10-Hour Barrage

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney in Souda Bay, Greece. The U.S. warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack in the Red Sea on Dec. 3, 2023. Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dodge/U.S. Navy via AP

The U.S. military intercepted a barrage of drones and missiles allegedly launched by Houthi rebels in the southern Red Sea over a 10-hour period on Dec. 26, according to officials.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that U.S. forces shot down a total of 12 drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles fired by Iran-aligned Houthis toward ships in the southern Red Sea.

“U.S. assets, including the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group intercepted the missiles, which were initially launched at approximately 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time),” the Centcom post reads.

There was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries despite the 10-hour-long barrage, according to officials.

The incident marked the latest attack by the Houthis on vessels operating in vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea, following a string of similar incidents this month.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have also claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and one-way drones in the direction of Israel in the wake of the Hamas terrorist group’s surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels haven’t yet commented on the most recent attack but did claim responsibility for a separate attack on Dec. 26 in which the group launched a missile strike on the MSC United VIII commercial ship, which is owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and was en route from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan.

Houthi forces spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X that the attack came after the Houthi side had issued repeated warning messages to the crew of MSC United that were ignored by the merchant ship’s crew.

‘Solidarity With the Palestinian People’

“The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm their continued support and solidarity with the Palestinian people as consistent with their religious, moral, and humanitarian duty,” Mr. Saree said.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed the Dec. 26 attack in a statement, noting that all crewmembers were safe and that no injuries have been reported.

The shipping firm stated that the vessel informed a nearby coalition task force warship of the attack and, as instructed, engaged in evasive maneuvers.

It’s currently conducting an assessment of the damages and will avoid using the Suez Canal going forward, instead diverting vessels to sail via the Cape of Good Hope.

“Our first priority remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured, MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope,” the company stated.

Mr. Saree said the Houthis had also launched drone and missile attacks targeting the Umm al-Rashrash area, also known as the city of Eilat, Israel, on Dec. 26.

Yemen's Houthi fighters during the takeover of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea off Hudaydah, Yemen, on Nov. 20, 2023. Houthi Movement via Getty Images

Pentagon Announces Joint Red Sea Operation

Mr. Saree didn’t confirm if any of the targets were hit or if any injuries occurred as a result of the missile attacks.

“The Yemeni armed forces confirm the continuation of their operations in the Red and Arab Bahrain against Israeli ships or those heading to the ports [of Israel],” he said.

According to Mr. Saree, the Houthi side will continue this as part of what it alleges is an effort to ensure humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The latest incidents come after the United States and a string of other nations including the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, launched a new joint task force known as “Operation Prosperity Guardian” to safeguard commercial shipping operations in the Red Sea.

Between 10 and 15 percent of global shipping flows through the Red Sea.

According to the Pentagon, the attacks by Houthi rebels are affecting global trade and commerce and negatively affecting the economies of nations around the world. They’re also costing commercial shipping firms billions of dollars.

Speaking at a Dec. 21 press conference, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the new joint initiative will see participating nations contribute military assets such as ships and aircraft to help bolster security in the area.

“It’s a defensive coalition meant to reassure global shipping and mariners that the international community is there to help with safe passage,” he said.

The United States will continue to “work with this coalition of the willing where countries will be able to contribute what they feel that they can,” Maj. Gen. Ryder said.