U.S. FIFTH FLEET, RED SEA- A joint US-UK naval task force comprised of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, the British Air-Defense destroyer HMS Diamond, and three Arleigh-Burke Class destroyers- USS Gravely, USS Laboon, and USS Mason- reportedly shot down a total of 21 drones and missiles deployed by rebel Houthi forces from Yemen Tuesday.
The drones and missiles were directed toward the Southern Red Sea, according to Pentagon sources with the British Admiralty, suggesting that additional measures may be required to protect international shipping.
According to Reuters, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters that the incident was the largest attack mounted in the area by the Houthi militants since they began striking civilian ships off the Yemeni coast.
Shapps said, "This is an unsustainable situation," and suggested journalists "watch this space," in regard to possible future action from the British Navy and its allies.
"This cannot continue and cannot be allowed to continue."
Reports from the U.S. Central Command stated that there were no injuries and no damage to the vessels.
CNN reported that the U.S. military described the incident as a "complex attack" deployed by the Iranian-backed terrorist organization. It began at 9:15 p.m Tuesday with 18 one-way attack drones launched and a salvo of two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile citing data from US CENTCOM. "Dozens" of merchant vessels were traveling in the attack area according to the statement.
The US and UK vessels were deployed as part of the ongoing Operation Prosperity Guardian, described as a "multi-national effort to safeguard shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways" by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
More than twenty nations are participating. However, as many lack formidable navies or have declined to commit fleet resources their participation is titular or logistical in nature. Participating nations include Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Singapore, and Spain according to the Department of Defense.
A spokesman for the Houthi terrorists Yahya Saree claimed in a statement that the attack was carried out against a US ship that was allegeldy "providing support" to Israel.
In a speech carried on international television he did not confirm the attack had occurred or what damage if any was achieved by the attack but pushed the narrative that the unprovoked attack was a "preliminary response" to a retaliatory strike against the militants which sank three ships and killed 10 terrorists on New Year's Eve.
The U.S. strike was in response to an attack on a Maersk container vessel in the Red Sea that led to attack helicopters from the Eisenhower and the Gravely responding to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, according to Reuters.
The drones and missiles were directed toward the Southern Red Sea, according to Pentagon sources with the British Admiralty, suggesting that additional measures may be required to protect international shipping.
According to Reuters, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters that the incident was the largest attack mounted in the area by the Houthi militants since they began striking civilian ships off the Yemeni coast.
Shapps said, "This is an unsustainable situation," and suggested journalists "watch this space," in regard to possible future action from the British Navy and its allies.
"This cannot continue and cannot be allowed to continue."
Reports from the U.S. Central Command stated that there were no injuries and no damage to the vessels.
CNN reported that the U.S. military described the incident as a "complex attack" deployed by the Iranian-backed terrorist organization. It began at 9:15 p.m Tuesday with 18 one-way attack drones launched and a salvo of two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile citing data from US CENTCOM. "Dozens" of merchant vessels were traveling in the attack area according to the statement.
The US and UK vessels were deployed as part of the ongoing Operation Prosperity Guardian, described as a "multi-national effort to safeguard shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways" by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
More than twenty nations are participating. However, as many lack formidable navies or have declined to commit fleet resources their participation is titular or logistical in nature. Participating nations include Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Singapore, and Spain according to the Department of Defense.
A spokesman for the Houthi terrorists Yahya Saree claimed in a statement that the attack was carried out against a US ship that was allegeldy "providing support" to Israel.
In a speech carried on international television he did not confirm the attack had occurred or what damage if any was achieved by the attack but pushed the narrative that the unprovoked attack was a "preliminary response" to a retaliatory strike against the militants which sank three ships and killed 10 terrorists on New Year's Eve.
The U.S. strike was in response to an attack on a Maersk container vessel in the Red Sea that led to attack helicopters from the Eisenhower and the Gravely responding to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, according to Reuters.
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