US destroyer targets drones in Red Sea as Houthis warn against retaliation

A US navy destroyer destroyed over a dozen Houthi drones on Saturday, amid warnings from the Yemeni group against any action against its Red Sea blockade of Israel.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), US destroyer USS Carney successfully targeted 14 drones that were launched consecutively from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen.

In a statement released on X, CENTCOM said that the drones "were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries".

The statement followed an announcement from a Houthi spokesperson that the group attacked the southern Israeli city of Eilat with a swarm of drones.

CENTCOM added that "regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat," following days of large-scale attacks against shipping in the Red Sea, with two Liberian vessels being struck by ballistic missiles fired by the group on Friday.

Houthi politburo member Ali al-Qahoum warned against any action against the group by the US or its allies over the blockade.

In comments made to Lebanese news channel Al Mayadeen, al-Qahoum stated that "the Houthi's will not abandon the Palestinian cause, regardless of any US, Israeli or Western threats".

He added that the Houthis were ready with defensive options to respond to attacks by the US or its allies.

In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2023

The Houthi's say that the attacks were a response for Israel's military assault on Gaza, which has killed 18,800 people since 7 October, with a further 51,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

Since attacks on two Liberian-flagged ships global shipping companies on Friday, Danish company Maersk stated that they would suspend all shipping through the Red Sea, with German company Hapag-Lloyd saying Red Sea shipping would be suspended till Monday.

The US has signalled it intends to create a coalition to break the Houthis' Red Sea blockade of Israel.