In a targeted operation, US forces executed strikes against several drones that were being readied for launch by Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday. The US Central Command confirmed that American ships successfully intercepted and downed numerous drones in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
These decisive actions come in the midst of the United States’ ongoing efforts to counter Houthi drone capabilities, a strategic move aimed at safeguarding crucial shipping routes in the region. This follows Washington’s airstrikes against other Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on the same day.
The series of strikes unfolded with the initial target being a drone spotted over the Gulf of Aden in the morning. The US Central Command positively identified the origin of the drone as Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
Subsequent to this, the United States initiated strikes against four Houthi drones in the process of launch, located in areas under the group’s control in Yemen. Additionally, seven drones flying over the Red Sea were also successfully targeted.
The coordinated strikes were executed from the aircraft carriers USS Carney and USS Labone, utilizing F/A-18 aircraft from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. The operation represents a continued effort by the United States to mitigate potential threats to regional stability.