A remotely operated surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen approached within a few miles of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before exploding on Thursday.
This incident occurred shortly after the White House, along with several partner nations, issued a “final warning” to the Iran-backed militia group, urging them to cease attacks or face potential military action.
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, noted that this marked the first instance of the Houthis using an unmanned surface vessel (USV) since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began during the Israel-Hamas war outbreak.
The Houthis have employed USVs in the past, particularly as suicide drone boats that explode upon impact during battles against the Saudi coalition forces intervening in Yemen’s war.
Since late October, the Houthis have launched numerous one-way attack drones and missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
U.S. Navy warships have intercepted ballistic missiles, with a total of 61 missiles and drones being shot down, the Associated Press reported.
In response to these attacks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Operation Prosperity Guardian in December.
Additional ships from the United States and other countries were deployed to the southern Red Sea to safeguard commercial vessels transiting the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Since the operation’s launch on December 18, 1,500 commercial ships have safely transited the area.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 