US says it destroyed 2 Houthi vessels in Red Sea

WASHINGTON

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that it destroyed two Houthi vessels in the Red Sea, noting they presented a "clear and imminent threat" to US and coalition forces in the region.

"This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security," CENTCOM wrote on X.

Yemen's Houthi group has been targeting Israeli-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in solidarity with Gaza, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since last October.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

Tensions are running high in the Middle East following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Iran has vowed a "harsh punishment" for Israel in retaliation for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated Shukr.

The US said it was not aware or involved in Haniyeh’s assassination and urged Iran and Israel not to escalate the conflict in the region.

Washington also said it is prepared to protect Israel from attacks from Iran and announced Friday that it would deploy additional military assets to the Middle East.

The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians following an attack on Oct. 7 by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas that killed 1,139 people.