Yemen's Houthis Fire Ballistic Missile at US Warship in Red Sea
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday that Yemen's Houthi group fired a close-range ballistic missile from areas it controls in Yemen toward the destroyer USS Laboon in the Red Sea. "United States Central Command and a coalition vessel successfully engaged and destroyed two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen," CENTCOM said in a statement. The vessel was not impacted by the missile, and no injuries or damage were reported, according to CENTCOM.
A Greek frigate deployed to the Red Sea last month to ward off attacks on shipping by Yemen's Huthis saw action for the first time on Wednesday, the military said. The Greek general staff said in a statement that the frigate Hydra had fired its gun at two drones, which then flew away. The engagement in the Gulf of Aden was part of the Hydra's mission to provide protection for a cargo ship, which the military did not identify by name. The Hydra sailed out last month to join the operation Aspides with the goal of protecting international shipping. The Iran-backed Huthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Social media platform X has removed the blue "Verified" badge from the accounts of some Houthi leaders and affiliated groups. The affected accounts include those belonging to the Iran-backed group's spokesperson, Yahya Sare'e, in English and Arabic, Hussein Al-Ezzi, the Houthi government's deputy foreign affairs minister, and Al-Masirah Channel, the group's media network. The Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar Al-Eryani, welcomed the decision by X. He wrote, "There is no difference between them and the terrorist groups whose pages media platforms are combating as part of the global war on terrorism." Houthis say their support is a "moral and religious duty".
The German Shipowners Association (VDR) said on Tuesday that shipping companies are incurring an additional cost of about $1 million per voyage due to the diversion to the Cape of Good Hope route around the southern tip of Africa to avoid attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Yemeni Houthi group. Houthis have been launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November last year. The Yemeni Houthi group says they will not cease operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden unless the Israeli war on Gaza stops.
