The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Saturday, August 31, 2024, that it had destroyed two drones belonging to the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, within the past 24 hours.

In a statement posted on X, monitored by "Barrna Press",  CENTCOM stated that "over the past 24 hours, US Central Command forces successfully destroyed two Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles in areas under the group's control," without providing further details.

CENTCOM deemed these drones "a clear and imminent threat to US forces, coalition forces (Guardians of Prosperity), and commercial vessels in the region."

Since November 2023, the Houthis, internationally designated as a terrorist group, have continued their attacks using missiles and drones against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.

To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have been conducting strikes against Houthi military targets intermittently.

Since January 12, the number of US and British airstrikes against the Houthis on the ground has reached approximately 570, resulting in the deaths of 58 individuals and injuries to 86 others, according to the group's own admission.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government maintains that Western strikes are ineffective in neutralizing the Houthi threat to navigation and that the most effective solution is to support its armed forces in retaking Hodeidah and its ports, as well as other areas under Houthi control.

Despite the group's continued adoption of maritime attacks, only four out of 170 ships that they claim to have targeted since November have experienced serious incidents or damage.