The Houthis carry out the largest attack in the Red Sea since the Gaza war
Centcom confirms that its forces, in collaboration with British forces, have intercepted 18 drones and 3 missiles launched by the Houthis in their 26th attack against merchant ships in the Red Sea
The Yemeni Houthis executed the biggest and most complex attacks affecting maritime navigation in the Red Sea since the Israeli war on Gaza, as confirmed by British authorities. British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced on Wednesday that the attack, countered by US and British forces in the Red Sea on Tuesday evening, was the “largest” carried out by the Houthi rebels in Yemen in the context of the war in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a US resolution condemning Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and calling on them to cease attacks and release the “Galaxy” tanker.
Shapps explained on the “X” platform that the forces of both countries “faced the largest attack to date by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.” The Pentagon announced that US and British forces had shot down 18 explosive drones, two cruise missiles, and a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea.
The US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Wednesday that its forces, in collaboration with British forces, intercepted 18 drones and 3 missiles launched by the Houthis in their 26th attack against merchant ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday evening.
Centcom stated on “X” that on January 9, around 9:15 PM local time in Sanaa (18:15 UTC), the Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack with Iranian drones designed for one-way attacks, anti-ship cruise missiles, and anti-ship ballistic missiles. The attack originated “from areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen to the southern Red Sea, towards the international shipping lanes used by dozens of merchant ships.”
Centcom added that 18 “Owa” model drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile were jointly shot down by F-18 aircraft from the US ships Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gravely, Laboon, and Mason, along with the British ship Diamond. According to the US command, this is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19. No injuries or damages have been reported. Centcom concluded its statement by noting that on January 3, 14 countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement stating that the Houthis would bear responsibility for the consequences if they continued to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of trade in vital waterways in the region.
Washington is presenting a resolution in the Security Council today condemning the provision of weapons and related materials of all kinds to the Houthis. It emphasizes that this is a violation of Resolution 2216 and calls for member states to respect the arms embargo related to Yemen.
The resolution also emphasizes the exercise of the navigational rights of commercial ships and acknowledges the right of member states to defend their ships from attacks. In “solidarity with Gaza,” which has been under Israeli war since October 7 with US support, the Houthis targeted Israeli-owned or operated cargo ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on December 18 the formation of a naval task force comprising several countries, including one Arab state, Bahrain, to confront attacks in the Red Sea. Sea trade accounts for 70% of Israel’s imports, and 98% of its foreign trade passes through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Sea trade through the Red Sea contributes 34.6% to Israel’s economy, according to the Ministry of Finance.
