(LibertyInsider.org) – American forces recently teamed up with their French and British military counterparts for a major joint operation that dealt a significant blow to Houthi rebels operating throughout the Middle East. According to an update from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the coalition group successfully downed 28 militia-controlled drones over the Red Sea during the early morning hours of March 9.
Allied forces were reportedly responding to intelligence suggesting that Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists intended to launch a large-scale UAV attack that same night. CENTCOM said the drones represented an immediate and serious threat to both merchant vessels and military ships operating in the region.
US, allies down 28 Houthi drones in Red Sea attack https://t.co/FIJiaYPVOB
— POLITICO (@politico) March 9, 2024
Yemeni General Yahya Sarea, who also serves as a spokesperson for the Houthis, took responsibility for the attack in a live TV broadcast the next day. Sarea reportedly said the terrorist group had been attempting to specifically target US war destroyers with a total of 37 drones.
It was not immediately clear where the remaining nine drones ended up after the coalition downed the other 28. However, in a separate update, CENTCOM confirmed that no US Navy vessels, allied military ships, or commercial boats sustained any damage in the foiled attack.
The French Navy, officially known as the Marine Nationale, also shot down at least four separate combat drones targeting ships from the European Aspides mission. One of those vessels was the True Confidence, a boat from Barbados that suffered at least three casualties after being targeted by Houthi rebels with anti-ship missiles on March 6.
Intelligence reports suggest that the militant group may also have erroneously attempted to strike the Singaporean vessel Propel Fortune in recent days. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the crew reported hearing at least two explosions on March 4, only one of which caused any direct damage. “Based on sources, Propel Fortune was [probably] targeted due to outdated [American] ownership data,” UKMTO said.
Coalition forces continue to report incidents across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden across multiple channels. While many of these attacks appear to be under investigation, Houthi leaders say they have no intention to back down any time soon. In fact, Sarea said during his televised appearance that they would continue “until the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.”
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