“On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
“Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34). This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. There were no injuries or damage reported,” it added.
Earlier, two US defense officials told CNN that the US Navy had shot down dozens Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen.
The actions were in response to one of the largest Houthi attacks to take place in the Red Sea in recent months.
According to initial assessments, there were no ships damaged in the attacks and no injuries as a result of the drone and missile launch, the officials said.
“We can confirm a Houthi attack occurred today near the southern Red Sea. We’ll provide additional details when they’re available," a third defense official told CNN.
Three destroyers took part in the shootdown of the barrage, one of the officials said.
The comments from the US officials came after both the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization and British maritime security firm Ambrey received reports of incidents in the Red Sea near Yemen.
Meanwhile, a Yemeni military source told Al Jazeera that the Houthi group Ansarullah targeted a vessel in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have upped their attacks in the region since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Yahya Sare'e, the military spokesman for the Houthi terrorist organization, claimed last week that the group attacked a ship that refused the Houthis' orders to stop and was on its way to Israel.
Days earlier, it was revealed that US helicopters sank three Houthi boats in the Red Sea. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats.
22 nations recently agreed to participate in a US-led coalition to safeguard commercial traffic in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.
Last week, a group of 13 countries, led by the United States, warned the Houthi rebels of unspecified consequences unless they halt their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.