The US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that in the past 24 hours, its forces “successfully destroyed 3 Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles and two missile systems in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen”.

CENTCOM said these systems “presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region”.

It added that these actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.

The Houthis continue to carry out attacks on commercial and military vessels in the waters surrounding Yemen, in sympathy strikes with Palestinians in Gaza.