Fifteen drones fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been shot down by the American army and its allies this morning, authorities say.
US Central Command, also called Centcom, stated it had responded to a “large-scale” assault early on Saturday.
The uncrewed aerial autos (UAVs) offered “an imminent threat to merchant vessels, US navy and coalition ships in the region,” Centcom posted on X.
It stated its navy ships and plane, together with “multiple coalition navy ships and aircraft”, shot down 15 UAVs.
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“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure,” it added.
The Houthis’ army spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated the group had carried out two army operations, the primary of which focused the Singapore-flagged bulk provider Propel Fortune within the Gulf of Aden.
In the second operation, Saree claimed a number of US army destroyers within the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden had been focused “by 37 drones”.
Centcom stated the primary assault set off explosions forward of the Propel Fortune, however the ship continued on its manner.
“The missiles did not impact the vessel,” it stated. “There were no injuries or damages reported.”
The explosions got here after a Houthi missile struck a industrial ship within the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to desert ship.
It was the primary deadly strike in a marketing campaign of assaults since November which the Houthis say is aimed toward placing stress on Israel to cease the struggle in Gaza – which faces the specter of famine after 5 months of battle.
Meanwhile, a meals support ship was making preparations to go away Larnaca in Cyprus on Saturday and head to the besieged Palestinian territory the place EU chiefs have stated a “humanitarian catastrophe” is unfolding.
The vessel, which is owned by Spain’s Open Arms NGO group, will perform a take a look at journey of a brand new maritime hall.
Under the plan, the ship will pull a barge loaded with 200 tons of rice and flour near the Gaza shoreline.
Pontoon boats will then tow the barge to a pier at an undisclosed location which is being constructed by the World Central Kitchen charity, that has 60 meals kitchens all through Gaza to distribute support.
Israel welcomed the ocean route however stated the ship would nonetheless want to finish safety checks to its “standards”.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden introduced plans to construct a “temporary pier” on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, which might take weeks. No US troops would enter Gaza to assemble it.
The American army has already delivered about 124,000 meals throughout 4 airdrops over the Gaza Strip in latest days.
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Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been remoted by Israeli forces combating Hamas and has suffered lengthy cut-offs of meals provides.
At least 20 individuals have died from malnutrition and dehydration on the north’s Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals, in accordance with the Hamas-run well being ministry. Most of the useless are youngsters.
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The struggle began after Hamas launched a cross-border assault on southern Israel on 7 October final 12 months, killing 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking greater than 250 others hostage.
Israel retaliated with strikes and a army floor assault in Gaza which have up to now killed greater than 31,000 individuals, round two-thirds of them girls and kids, stated the well being ministry.
Around 80% of the inhabitants of two.3 million have fled their properties, and UN companies say a whole bunch of 1000’s are getting ready to famine.
More than 100 hostages in Gaza have been launched.
Source: information.sky.com”