A joint effort by US, British and French forces successfully repelled a series of attacks launched by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, military sources reported.
Unfortunately, joint efforts to repel attacks south of the Suez Canal over the weekend also resulted in the death of three seafarers.
The US military disclosed that it had intercepted and downed at least 28 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Red Sea in the early hours of Saturday.
Acting with its coalition partners, the US military said they responded to the "large-scale" attack after assessing it as an imminent threat to merchant vessels in the vicinity.
According to statements released by the US Central Command, the Houthis claimed to have targeted the Propel Fortune along with several destroyers from America’s navy.
The bulk carrier was travelling about 50 nautical miles (+/- 93kms) south of the Port of Aden when Yemeni rebels fired anti-ship ballistic missiles at the Fortune.
No US or coalition military vehicles sustained damage, and there were no reports of harm to any of the Fortune’s crew.
The Singapore-flagged vessel is off the coast of India at the moment.
Since November, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on ships navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond had successfully neutralised two drones launched by the Houthis on Friday night.
According to the BBC, Shapps affirmed the commitment of the UK and its allies to take necessary action to safeguard lives and ensure freedom of navigation.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) further detailed that the Houthi drone attack was fully repelled by the Type 23 frigate and its international counterparts, with no injuries or damages reported.
In a parallel incident, a French warship and fighter jets intercepted and downed four drones, thwarting an attack aimed at a European naval mission and a cargo ship being towed in the Gulf of Aden.
Tragically, the engagement resulted in the loss of three sailors, including two Filipinos and one Vietnamese, marking the first fatalities since the onset of Houthi attacks.
The recent surge in Houthi attacks has led vessels traversing the Red Sea to divert around southern Africa instead of utilising the Suez Canal, elevating costs and posing potential economic risks on a global scale.
Despite previous strikes by the US and UK against Houthi-associated targets, the latest developments indicate a persistent threat to maritime security, with no immediate signs of abatement.
