The US military forces have destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle in a Houthi rebel-held area of war-ravaged Yemen and another over a crucial shipping route in the Red Sea.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It was the latest development in months of tension between the Iran-backed rebels and the US.
The drones, which were destroyed on Saturday, posed a threat to US and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, the US Central Command said.
It said that one drone was destroyed over the Red Sea, while the second was destroyed on the ground as it was prepared to launch.
"These actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels," it said.
There was no comment from the Houthi rebels, which control much of Yemen's north and west.
The rebels launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in November. They have also fired missiles towards Israel, although those have largely fallen short or been intercepted.
The rebels have described their campaign as an effort to pressure Israel to end its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The ships targeted by the Houthis have largely had little or no connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war.
The Houthis have kept up their campaign of attacks despite more than two months of US-led airstrikes.
Australian Associated Press
