US engages anti-ship ballistic missile, UAVs launched from Yemen

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US engaged an anti-ship ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicles launched from areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi group, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.

"At 11:51 a.m. (Sanaa time) on April 24, a coalition vessel successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden.

"The ASBM was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members," CENTCOM said on X.

There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition or commercial ships, it added.

Separately, CENTCOM successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, it said.

It added that it determined that the ASBM and UAVs presented an "imminent threat" to vessels in the region.

Yemen’s Houthi group has been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7 last year.

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

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced the creation of a multinational mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to counter the Houthi attacks.