On Tuesday, December 26, US warships and aircraft mounted a focused defensive response in the southern Red Sea, intercepting more than 10 unmanned aerial vehicles and several cruise missiles launched by the Shiite Ansarullah movement, commonly known as the Houthis. The information comes from a formal statement issued by US Central Command, which tracked and confirmed the engagements as they unfolded over several hours. The incident underscores ongoing tensions in the Red Sea region and the strategic importance of multinational efforts to safeguard maritime traffic. According to CENTCOM, the actions were part of a broader security posture intended to deter attacks on commercial shipping and to protect international maritime routes. (CENTCOM statement)
According to the command’s official briefing, the naval units involved included vessels such as USS Laboon and air assets from the carrier strike group operating aboard the Eisenhower. The report specifies that 12 attack aircraft were neutralized along with three anti-ship missiles and two land-based cruise missiles during the operations in the southern Red Sea. The attacks reportedly persisted for about 10 hours, beginning in the early hours of December 26 local time, illustrating a sustained effort by the Houthis to target maritime traffic in the area. The CENTCOM release also notes that the ships participating in the engagement sustained no damage and that there were no confirmed injuries among the forces involved. (CENTCOM briefing)
In the days leading up to these events, the United States announced a coordinated maritime initiative involving ten partner nations, including Bahrain, aimed at protecting merchant shipping from Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and adjacent waters. The Houthis, in turn, framed this international military presence as a threat to regional shipping security and as a justification for their broader campaign to challenge what they view as external interference in Red Sea maritime routes. This exchange highlights the precarious balance between freedom of navigation and regional security interests in a zone of growing strategic competition. (US government and Houthi statements)
During the sequence of events on December 26, reports indicate that several ships in the area were targeted by Houthis, with one container vessel cited as among the merchant ships affected by the tensions in the Red Sea corridor. The Houthis have previously signaled an intent to conduct regular attacks on merchant shipping, reportedly planning to stage operations on a semi-regular cadence. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing de-escalation and adherence to international maritime law while also supporting the protection of critical shipping lanes. (Maritime security updates)