US Navy Ship Intercepts Yemen Drone
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The U.S. military confirmed Thursday that the Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down a drone over the Red Sea launched from Yemen but said the ship wasn’t the “intended target.”
“Our assessment right now is that the intended target was not the Hudner. But…the drone got so close to the crew that the commander did feel it necessary to engage and shoot down the drone,” added Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
Earlier, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen threatened to attack ships in the Red Sea, including those of the United States, as it supports Israel in its war against Hamas.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Houthis were responsible for firing Thursday’s intercepted drone, but they have attacked both Israel and U.S. military assets.
Last week, the Houthis shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Red Sea amid rising Middle East tensions.
There were no reported injuries in Thursday’s incident.
However, it came after the U.S. sent an additional 1,200 troops to the Middle East in recent weeks, along with two aircraft carrier strike groups and more aircraft to support Israel in its fight against Hamas.
Washington says it seeks to deter chances the armed conflict will expand in the region.
The Houthis also attacked Israel after it launched strikes against Hamas following the Palestinian group’s October 7 terror attack against Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
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