An uncrewed aerial vehicle launched from Yemen was shot down in self-defense by a US ship in the southern Red Sea on Saturday in the vicinity of several commercial vessels, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

No casualties or damage were reported, it said.

The announcement came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization said that six small craft approached a merchant vessel about 50 nautical miles from the Yemeni city of Mocha on Saturday before leaving the area.

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militias have stepped up attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Various shipping lines have suspended operations, instead taking the longer journey around Africa.

“The vessel and crew were reported safe,” UKMTO added in an advisory note on the incident.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon