JERUSALEM(AP)—For a second straight day this week U.S. warships faced a terrorist threat in the Red Sea.
Between 6:00 and 10:56 p.m. Thursday the United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen
These UAS were aimed at a Coalition vessel and a U.S. warship and were engaged in self defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The Central Command did not identify which U.S. warship was involved.
It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.
Meanwhile, the top U.S. general says the Biden administration has not given Israel all of the weapons it has requested as the war against Hamas in Gaza grinds on.
Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday that he makes recommendations, but not the final decision, on what military aid will be provided.
U.S. officials have been under pressure to use the ongoing delivery of weapons as leverage to get Israel to increase humanitarian support in Gaza and to provide greater protection for civilians, particularly as Israel looks to go after Hamas battalions and leadership in the southern city of Rafah.
Asked if the U.S. has held back some weapons to press Israel to expand humanitarian aid, Brown said, “some of that is because they’ve asked for stuff that we either don’t have the capacity, right, or not willing to provide right now in particular. But it is a constant dialogue with them.”
Speaking at a forum sponsored by George Washington University’s Project for Media and National Security, Brown said the U.S. does make such decisions based on how it could impact America’s military readiness, especially when it involved sending weapons from Pentagon stockpiles.
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, declined to provide details on which systems the U.S. has so far opted not to send.