UPDATED: US Warship Shoots Down Houthi Drone, Missiles Fired Misses Tanker Carrying Jet Fuel
The tanker, which was sailing under the Marshal Islands flag was transporting Indian-manufactured fuel and sailing northward toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea.
DUBAI, UAE - Missiles fired from Houthi-held positions within Yemen missed a tanker transporting jet fuel on Wednesday near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to officials. The USS Mason also reportedly intercepted and shot down a Houthi drone that was headed in its direction. [EDITS: Statement from Central Command on the incident added]
DOD Addresses Middle East, Indo-Pacific Conflicts, Support For Ukraine
WASHINGTON - Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder held an on-camera press briefing on December 12th addressing the Pentagon's support for Ukraine regarding its right to defend itself against attacks by Russia, support which he stated is "unshakeable", adding that the United States has committed over $44 billion in security assistance to the country. He also addressed the situation in the Middle East. On December 11th he held an off-camera press briefing.
The tanker, which was sailing under the Marshal Islands flag was transporting Indian-manufactured fuel and sailing northward toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea.
It was headed to the Suez Canal from Mangalore, India, and had an armed security detail onboard that fired on skiffs filled with militants attempting to board the tanker, according to the private intelligence firm Ambrey.