The United States military attacked and destroyed 10 Houthi aerial drones in Yemen as they were about to launch, said a U.S. official Wednesday as tensions from the war in Israel continued to escalate throughout the Middle East.
In addition to the 10 destroyed Houthi drones, a U.S. Navy ship — the USS Carney — shot down three Iranian drones. Meanwhile, the USS Gravely shot down a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden, said the U.S. military Central Command (CENTCOM) in a recent statement.
It was during the early morning hours Thursday in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, that the U.S. forces dismantled the 10 Houthi suicide bomber drones.
“U.S. forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region,” wrote CENTCOM in a statement.
“U.S. Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAV ground control station and 10 one-way attack UAVs in self-defense,” CENTCOM added.
CENTCOM Self-Defense Strike Against Houthi UAVs and Ground Control Station pic.twitter.com/9LUKQS2HEB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 1, 2024
“Later the same day, at approximately 10:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes and destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) in the Red Sea,” wrote CENTCOM about the USS Carney’s engagement with the Iranian drones.
“U.S. forces identified the USV heading toward the international shipping lane and determined it presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region,” CENTCOM added. “U.S. Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the USV in self-defense resulting in significant secondary explosions. There were no injuries or damage reported.”
CENTCOM Update to Events in the Red Sea
On Feb. 1, at approximately 5:00 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces engaged and shot down one UAV over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported.
Later the same day, at approximately 10:30 a.m. (Sanaa time),… pic.twitter.com/Ufdq5gQPPE
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 1, 2024
According to a report by CNN, the Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile “came within a mile” of the USS Gravely before the Navy vessel destroyed it with its Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), an automated machine gun designed for close-range intercepts.
According to an analysis by The Daily Wire, cruise missiles travel at a speed of hundreds of miles per hour, so the missile was mere seconds away from impact when the Navy intercepted it.
