April 26 (UPI) — U.S. Central Command said on Friday it destroyed two unmanned devices on Thursday while a ballistic missile was launched from an area controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen but fell into the Gulf of Aden.
CENTCOM said the anti-ship missile that was launched Thursday morning did not make contact with a ship and fell into the gulf without causing any injuries or damage to military or commercial ships.
In the meantime, U.S. forces did destroy an unmanned vessel and an airborne drone Thursday afternoon in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
“It was determined that the ASBM, USV and UAV presented an imminent threat to U.S. coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said on X. “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition and merchant vessels.”
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking U.S. forces and commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea since the start of the Gaza War allegedly in support of Hamas. The rebels have been locked in a long civil war against Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia for control of the war-torn country.