Houthis launch sea drone to attack ships hours after US, allies issue final warning

Here’s the latest for Friday January 5th: US Secretary of State on Mideast diplomatic mission; US says armed vessel approached Navy and commercial ships in Red Sea; Fatal school shooting in Iowa; Winter storm forecast for East Coast. WASHINGTON (AP) — An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a “couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war . They have, however, used them in years past. Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USV’s are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemen’s war. They have regularly been used as suicide drone boats that explode upon impact. Most of the Houthis’ USVs are likely assembled in Yemen but often fitted with components made in Iran, such as computerized guidance systems, Hinz said. Related coverage US calls for urgent UN action on attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea US warns Houthis to cease attacks on Red Sea vessels or face potential military action US calls for urgent UN action on attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea At the United Nations, U.S. deputy ambassador Christopher […]

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