The U.S. Central Command confirmed conducting a strike in self-defense against Houthi drones and a ground control station. Houthi-affiliated media reported that American and British forces bombed an area in Al-Hudaydah city, Yemen. An American official stated that the United States struck up to 10 drones in Yemen that were prepared for launch.
Fox News reported an American official saying that the United States executed a "self-defense" strike that destroyed several missiles the Houthis were preparing to launch at commercial vessels. The unnamed official clarified that Britain did not participate in this strike and that the United States acted alone.
Meanwhile, a correspondent from CBS News posted late Wednesday on X that a senior defense official indicated that the U.S. had targeted 10 drones in western Yemen that were ready for launch. This action follows a missile strike by the Houthis on a commercial vessel off the coast of Yemen, according to Ambrey, a maritime security firm. Ambrey reported, "A commercial vessel was reportedly targeted by a missile while sailing southwest of Aden, Yemen," further adding that "the ship reported an explosion" on board while sailing 69 nautical miles southwest of Aden.
Additionally, in an earlier announcement, the Houthis declared late Wednesday-Thursday that they had targeted a U.S. commercial vessel. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that the militia targeted the U.S. commercial vessel KOL with several naval missiles, claiming it was headed to Israel and that the missiles struck it directly. He noted that this came after the U.S. destroyer "Griffin" was targeted by several naval missiles in the Red Sea, adding, "The strike was direct and precise."
CNN reported that U.S. officials stated the Houthis launched a missile towards a destroyer before it was intercepted one mile away from the ship, highlighting that this is the closest range reached by a Houthi missile since late last year.
