US and UK naval forces successfully thwart biggest Houthi assault on shipping in the Red Sea

According to the UK defence secretary, naval forces from the UK and US have successfully defended against the largest attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea. The attack consisted of 18 drones and three missiles launched by the Iran-backed rebels. However, carrier-based jets and four warships managed to shoot down all the projectiles, resulting in no injuries or damage. The Houthis have previously targeted merchant vessels in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, falsely claiming that these ships were associated with Israel. This recent attack marks the 26th such incident since November 19, according to the US military. In response, the US, UK, and 10 other countries have issued a warning to the Houthis, urging them to immediately cease these illegal attacks that pose a direct threat to navigation in the critical Red Sea waterway, which facilitates almost 15% of global trade. While the allies have refrained from direct strikes in Yemen, the UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, cautioned that if the attacks persisted, the Houthis would face consequences, stressing their commitment to protecting innocent lives and the global economy.