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1 of 2 | A photograph made disposable by nan Houthis connected January 13, 2024 shows a projectile being launched during a subject workout adjacent nan Yemen-Saudi Arabia separator astatine Al-Baqaa area successful nan bluish state of Saada, Yemen. U/.S. forces took down 3 Houthi drones successful nan region Thursday, nan U.S. Central Command said. EPA-EFE/HOUTHIS MEDIA CENTER HANDOUT
May 3 (UPI) -- U.S. subject forces destroyed 3 uncrewed aerial systems successful a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, nan U.S. Central Command said Thursday, arsenic nan Iran-backed militia continues its attacks connected commercialized and subject vessels transiting nan Red Sea amid nan Israel-Hamas war.
CENTCOM said successful a statement that nan systems "presented an imminent an imminent threat to U.S., conjugation forces and merchant vessels successful nan region."
"These actions are taken to protect state of navigation and make world waters safer and much unafraid for U.S., conjugation and merchant vessels," nan CENTCOM said.
The incident occurred astir 2 p.m. section time.
Israel and Iran person for years been successful a proxy conflict that exploded into nan unfastened connected Oct. 7 erstwhile Hamas, different Tehran-backed militia, attacked Israel.
Emboldened by nan war, Houthis person been attacking commercialized arsenic good arsenic U.S. and British subject vessels successful nan all-important waste and acquisition way of nan Red Sea, stating nan strikes are successful solidarity pinch nan Palestinian people.
The Biden management has tried to locomotion nan statement of protecting nan seaway while defending its aforesaid and friends without escalating nan Middle Eastern conflict, and has taken to operating nan channel, on pinch different allies, shooting down launched Houthi missiles and drones while attacking sites successful Yemen wherever subject instrumentality is deemed to beryllium a threat.
It has besides turned sanctions successful an effort to financially trim disconnected nan militia's gross sources backing its war-making capabilities.
Since its first onslaught connected Nov. 19, nan Houthis person launched immoderate 100 strikes, and astatine slightest 53 attacks connected commercialized vessels and 1 seizure, according to nan U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administraiton.
On April 26, CENTCOM said nan British-owned and Panama-flagged Andromeda Star, was deed by a Houthi onslaught but only suffered insignificant damage.
Tuesday was nan astir caller CENTCOM onslaught into Yemen, destroying a maritime drone.
The Houthis were formed successful bluish Yemen successful 2004, espousing anti-U.S. and anti-Zionist beliefs, pinch Iran providing it put of materials, including advisory support, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.
