US warship shoots down UAV suspected to be launched by Houthi

The destroyer USS Carney shot down a UAV launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, apparently targeting a US warship escorting two transport ships.

"While traveling in the Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney shot down an Iranian-made KAS-04 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on November 29.

"Although the UAV's target is unknown, the vehicle was headed toward a warship escorting a US Navy tanker and a US-flagged military equipment carrier," CENTCOM said. "There were no casualties to the crew or damage to the US ships."

The destroyer USS Carney moves at sea. Photo: US Navy — The destroyer USS Carney moves at sea. Photo: *US Navy*

The US Navy has recently shot down several UAVs launched from Yemen, the most recent of which occurred on November 23. On November 9, Houthi forces shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper UAV operating off the coast of Yemen, accusing the vehicle of being on a reconnaissance mission to support Israel.

Following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly attacked by rockets or drones, injuring dozens of their personnel. The US blamed pro-Iranian militias for these attacks and carried out several retaliatory airstrikes.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas appears to have brought a halt to attacks on US forces in the Middle East. The Pentagon said on November 28 that there had been no attacks on US forces since the agreement took effect on November 24.

On November 29, the US announced that an Iranian UAV had dangerously approached the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US naval forces in the Middle East, accused this of "unsafe, unprofessional and irresponsible behavior by Iran that endangered the lives of US citizens and partner nations".