US Forces Destroy Houthi Drone, Ballistic Missiles in Red Sea

Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
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US Forces Destroy Houthi Drone, Ballistic Missiles in Red Sea

Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

US forces on Saturday destroyed one Iran-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial system in the southern Red Sea and saw two others crash into the sea, US Central Command said.

The Central Command forces also destroyed two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles fired in direction of the USS Gravely, it said. No injuries or damage were reported by US, coalition or commercial ships, it added.

The Houthi militias have attacked ships off Yemen’s coast for months, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.

Their drone and missile strikes have been aimed at the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.



White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”