Yemen’s Houthi rebels employ drone boat in latest Red Sea shipping attack

(Representative photo only)

Yemen’s Houthi militia employed a one-way attack unmanned surface vessel (USV) against international shipping lanes in the Red Sea on Thursday, January 4, the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) said in a subsequent press briefing.

NAVCENT commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said there were no casualties and no ships were hit, but the introduction of a one-way attack USV “is of concern.”

The USV had launched from Houthi-controlled territory and had transited 15 miles (24 kilometres) out to international shipping lanes where it later detonated. It remains unclear whether it was targeting a specific vessel in the area.

Cooper said the low-profile USV “came within a couple of miles” of merchant ships and US Navy ships and that NAVCENT personnel witnessed its explosion.

Cooper characterised the USV incident as “the use of a new capability,” as the Houthis rarely employed this type of unmanned craft until recently.


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