ALBAWBA - According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the USS Carney shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile and three Iranian-made drones fired by Yemen's Houthi group toward the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday.
"On Jan. 31, at approximately 8:30 p.m. (Sana time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden," CENTCOM said in a statement.
The missile was shot down by the USS Carney (DDG 64), the report said. "At 9.10 p.m., the USS Carney engaged and shot down three Iranian UAVs in its vicinity," the statement read, adding that no injuries or damage were reported.
Later on, CENTCOM announced striking 10 Houthi UAVs and Ground Control Station CENTCOM reported identifying the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and "determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region".
In self-defense, US forces struck and destroyed the UAV ground control station, as well as ten one-way attack UAVs. This action will protect the freedom of navigation while also making international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels.
The Houthis said earlier on Wednesday that their naval forces carried out an operation targeting an "American merchant ship" in the Gulf of Aden, hours after firing missiles at the US Navy destroyer Gravely.
Later in December, the U.S. announced forming an international coalition aimed at curbing the Houthi attacks toward any vessels and ships headed towards Israel.
In the latest series of coalition strikes, U.S. CENTCOM reported that alongside the UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted strikes on 8 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen.
The targets included missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars, and deeply buried weapons storage facilities.
Shortly after Israel launched its brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip, Houthis ought to target all merchant and military vessels crossing the Red Sea and headed to Israel, as a way to retaliate for the people of Gaza.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
