A flurry of fourteen attack drones that were purportedly launched from Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen were shot down by a US Navy destroyer that was sent to the Red Sea as part of Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement that the unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney on Saturday morning. It was determined that the drones were one-way attack drones. The statement said that no ships in the region had been damaged and that no injuries had been recorded.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, the USS Carney has defended against multiple such attacks, destroying drones and missiles that the Pentagon linked to the Houthis. Additionally, CENTCOM has asserted that Iran is “fully enabling” the strikes. This month, missiles have struck multiple commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Some significant maritime corporations, including Maersk, have advised their customers to avoid the area because to the increasing threats. In the wake of Friday’s attack on its MSC Palatium III container ship in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) declared on Saturday that its ships will no longer be passing through the Suez Canal. No crew members were hurt, however the MSC Palatium III sustained fire damage and had to be put out of service.
Ships will continue to be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope until the Red Sea passage is safe, often adding several days to the journey, according to MSC. “Given these grave circumstances, we kindly request your understanding.”
