Coalition air and naval assets intercept Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping

By Baird Maritime - January 10, 2024.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 32 prepares for launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Fifth Fleet area of operations, January 8, 2024. (Photo: US Navy)

Ships and aircraft of the US-led international military coalition formed to safeguard commercial shipping in the Red Sea have successfully intercepted a complex attack from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting.

The attack against southern Red Sea shipping by Iranian-designed, one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile occurred at approximately 21:15 local time on Tuesday, January 9, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed via social media.

The UAVs and missiles were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters from the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely, USS Laboon, and USS Mason, and the UK Royal Navy air defence destroyer HMS Diamond.

CENTCOM said this is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19, 2023. There were no injuries or damage reported.