The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Friday that its forces destroyed seven Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and one ground control station vehicle in Yemeni areas under Houthi control.

“It was determined the UAVs and the ground control station presented an imminent threat to US, coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM statement published on X read.

“This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” it added.

Since mid-November, the Houthis, acting as an Iranian proxy group, initiated targeting maritime commercial traffic, prompted by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's call for Muslim nations to blockade Israel. Initially concentrated in the Red Sea, these assaults have expanded to vital waterways such as the Indian Ocean.

Despite repeated US and UK airstrikes on Houthi military installations since January, the Iran-backed faction has intensified its attacks in recent weeks, coinciding with ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza and strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

The Houthi campaign has severely disrupted global shipping, compelling companies to redirect through longer and costlier routes around southern Africa. Moreover, it has sparked concerns about the potential spread of the Gaza conflict.