UK says British, American navies repelled ‘largest attack’ by Houthis in Red Sea

LONDON (AA) – The US and British navies shot down drones and missiles fired to repel the “largest attack” from Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea, the British Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Overnight, HMS DIAMOND, along with US warships, successfully repelled the largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date,” a ministry statement said.

“Deploying Sea Viper missiles and guns, DIAMOND destroyed multiple attack drones heading for her and commercial shipping in the area, with no injuries or damage sustained to DIAMOND or her crew,” it added.

The US had said Tuesday they shot down 21 drones and missiles launched by Houthis.

This was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19, US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X.

The British Defense Ministry said: “The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences.”

In a joint statement last week, the US, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the UK called for the immediate end to the “illegal attacks” and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews.

The Houthis have targeted vessels in the Southern Red Sea and warned that they will attack all Israel-bound ships. They say the attacks are to support Palestinians as they face Israel’s “aggression and siege” in Gaza.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

Meanwhile, Houthis said that they had attacked a US ship providing support for Israel in the Red Sea.

“The attack involved a large number of ballistic and naval missiles and drones,” the Houthi group said in a statement.

The Yemeni group said the attack “was an initial response to last month’s US assault on its forces in the Red Sea.”

Last month, Houthi rebels said that 10 members had been killed in a US attack on three rebel boats in the Red Sea.

“We will not hesitate to deal appropriately with all hostile threats as part of the right to defend our country, our people, and our nation,” the Houthi group said.