By Al-Fassel | 2024-03-12

The day before Ramadan began, US and allied forces thwarted one of the largest attacks staged by the Houthis to date, shooting down at least 28 attack drones launched from Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Iran-backed group appears intent on continuing its aggression -- which has included a March 6 attack on a commercial ship (MV True Confidence) that killed three civilian crew members -- during the holy month.

The "large-scale" barrage of attack drones began at 4am March 9 and continued until 8.20am, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

France's Armed Forces Ministry said its fighter jets and one warship had downed four of the drones in the Gulf of Aden.

"This defensive action contributed directly to the protection of the cargo ship True Confidence (under Barbadian flag), which was hit on March 6 and is currently being towed away," the ministry said in a March 9 statement.

French forces have been operating in the Red Sea as part of the European Union's Aspides mission, announced in February, to protect international shipping from the Houthis' attacks.

On March 8, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V Propel Fortune, a Singapore-flagged, -owned and -operated vessel, CENTCOM said.

"The missiles did not impact the vessel. There were no injuries or damages reported," CENTCOM said.

On the night of March 8, the UK's HMS Richmond used Sea Ceptor missiles to shoot down two drones, "successfully repelling yet another illegal attack by the Iranian backed Houthis," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said on X.

"The UK and our allies will continue to take the action necessary to save lives and protect freedom of navigation," he said.

Earlier in the day, US forces conducted a self-defense strike against two truck-mounted anti-ship missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said.

Violence continues

There is every indication that the Houthis will continue their attacks during Ramadan, with several maritime security agencies reporting that an explosion had been heard March 11 near a vessel off the Red Sea coast of Yemen.

On March 9, the Houthis staged a military parade in Sanaa, and in a March 10 speech their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group would continue its attacks during the holy month, the Middle East Monitor reported.

Since January, the United States and Britain have launched repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ship attacks, AFP reported.

On January 9, US and British forces shot down 18 drones and three missiles fired by the Houthis toward ships in the Red Sea, the US military said at the time.

It was the largest attack to that point by the Houthis, said Britain.

Since November 19, the Houthis have conducted more than 48 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels in and around the Red Sea, according to the Pentagon.

They have used anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems against surface vessels.

They also seized control of one vessel, the Galaxy Leader, in a helicopter raid, taking the crew hostage to use as civilian pawns.

The attacks have affected the interests of more than 55 nations and threatened the free flow of commerce through the Red Sea, prompting more than a dozen major shipping operators to suspend transit across the Red Sea.

This has caused a spike in insurance rates for vessels and put the lives of mariners at risk, driven up prices and caused delays in the delivery of humanitarian aid, such as food and medicine, the Pentagon said.