The United States confirmed on Friday that it successfully intercepted a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels. The Houthi attacks, alleged to target vessels in the Red Sea shipping lane, were reportedly in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel and Hamas. The USS Mason (DDG 87) played a crucial role in neutralizing the threats, with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting no damage to the 18 ships in the area and no reported injuries.
This incident marks the 22nd attempted attack on international shipping by the Houthi rebels since mid-October. Despite the U.S. claims, the Houthi rebels maintain that their actions are aimed at Israel and Israeli-linked vessels, seeking to press for an end to the offensive in the Gaza Strip that originated with a Hamas attack on October 7.