For the First Time, the U.S. Destroys Houthi 'Unmanned Underwater Vehicle' Supported by the Islamic Republic

On Sunday, February 18, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement five successful attacks against the Iran-backed Houthis. According to the statement, these attacks took place between 3 PM and 8 PM on Saturday, during which three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned surface vessel, and one unmanned underwater vehicle were destroyed. CENTCOM added that this was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned underwater vehicle since their attacks began on October 23 of this year. The statement referred to these Houthi weapons as an 'imminent threat' to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the region, and the destruction of these assets was deemed necessary to protect freedom of navigation and to make international waters safer for vessels in the area. In this context, an unnamed U.S. official told Voice of America that the spy ship 'Beshad' and the corvette 'Saviz' were the vessels targeted by U.S. cyber operations. The U.S. believes that the military ship 'Beshad' and the corvette 'Saviz' provided targeting information on passing ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Houthis, and the aim of the cyber attack was to prevent the sharing of targeting information with the Houthi rebels and to maintain the security of commercial vessels in international shipping routes. On Saturday, CENTCOM also announced that it targeted a mobile anti-ship cruise missile and a mobile unmanned vessel in the Houthi-controlled area in Yemen. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that the Houthis were once again placed on the list of 'specially designated global terrorists' due to their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea starting from Friday, February 17. The U.S. government had previously stated that it would reinstate the Yemeni rebel groups on this list to prevent further attacks on international shipping in the region. The Iran-backed Houthis have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea with missile and drone attacks under the pretext of supporting Palestinians following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. These attacks have led several shipping companies to halt transit through the Red Sea and opt for the longer and more expensive route around the African continent. The United States and its allies have targeted Houthi positions in addition to taking special measures to protect free navigation and passing commercial vessels. A senior U.S. commander in the Middle East stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operates 'shoulder to shoulder with the Houthis' in Yemen. The ongoing U.S. response to the Islamic Republic and its proxies includes a cyber attack on the spy ship Beshad. The consequences of the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have led Arabs and Israelis to create an 'alternative land corridor.' A cargo vessel was targeted in waters near Yemen. The seizure of a ship carrying Iranian weapons for the Houthi rebels; CENTCOM attacked Houthi positions. The struggle over the Houthis has seen Russia and China clash with the U.S. and Britain in the Security Council. The ongoing threats from the Houthis have caused Greek commercial vessels to change their routes from the Red Sea. The U.S. has called for global pressure against the Islamic Republic to stop Houthi attacks. A missile attack on a ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday; the Houthis are the main suspects. The U.S. destroyed two Houthi vessels and three cruise missiles. The U.S. targeted several Houthi mobile unmanned vessels and missiles.