By Al-Fassel | 2024-01-10

US and UK warships and fighter jets on Tuesday (January 9) shot down more than 20 drones and missiles over the Red Sea launched by the Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen in their "largest attack" yet, the US and UK militaries said.

At approximately 9.15pm Tuesday, the Houthis launched a "complex attack" of Iranian designed drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile, the US military's Central Command said in a statement.

The attack was launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting, it said.

In a combined effort, US fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason and HMS Diamond shot down 18 attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile.

"Overnight HMS Diamond, along with US warships, successfully repelled the largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date," UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a Wednesday statement.

"Deploying Sea Viper missiles and guns, Diamond destroyed multiple attack drones heading for her and commercial shipping in the area, with no injuries or damages sustained to Diamond or her crew," he said.

"The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences," he added.

"We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy."

The Tuesday night assault was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19, the US military said.

There were no injuries or damage reported.

Drone activity off Yemen coast

International forces deployed to protect shipping in the Red Sea were responding to reports of drone activity off the western coast of Yemen early Wednesday, AFP reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), said the incident had taken place about 50 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of al-Hodeidah.

"Multiple reports of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) activity," UKMTO said in a bulletin. "Coalition forces are responding, no injuries or damage reported."

British maritime security firm Ambrey on Tuesday received reports of suspicious activity from two merchant vessels southwest of Yemen's Mokha, Reuters reported.

A tanker either saw flares or missile trails, while a bulk carrier detected three small vessels approximately one mile in the direction of their port quarter, Ambrey said in an advisory note.

The tanker reported seeing two missiles fired from the direction of the boats and one drone flying ahead of the vessel, Ambrey added.

In a Monday briefing, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted that as drones approach US warships, "it's not always clear whether they're targeting the ships or whether they're presenting a danger to other vessels."

But "when it comes inside that certain threat ring they're not going to leave it to question," he said. "They're going to take appropriate action and take it down."

International operation expands

Since the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian on December 18, the international maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping has grown rapidly, with 22 countries contributing to the operation and more expected to contribute.

In a Tuesday post on X, Singapore announced it will participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian under the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force 153, which is focused on Red Sea maritime security.

"This is part of efforts to ensure the freedom of navigation in this key global Sea Line of Communication," Singapore's ministry of defense said.

"It is in our interest for Singapore to join cause with the international community to protect and ensure that key sea lines of communication (SLOCs) around the world remain open, especially if threatened by unlawful acts by non-state actors or terrorist groups," Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen said.

Singapore had on January 3 endorsed a statement issued by a coalition of nations led by the United States that jointly warned the Houthis to immediately halt their attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.

On December 31, US Navy helicopters sank three small boats piloted by the Houthis that were attacking a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned/operated container ship in the southern Red Sea.

Gunmen had fired at the container ship Maersk Hangzhou from the small boats, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel and attempting to board.

Ships targeted by the Houthis' attacks in the southern Red Sea have connections to more than 50 countries, the US Navy said, stressing that the group's actions are an international problem that requires an international solution.