The US military on Thursday said it had destroyed two anti-ship ballistic missiles and an unmanned surface vessel launched by Houthis from Yemen.

“It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to coalition and merchant vessels in the region,” US Central Command wrote on social media site X.

Yemen’s Houthi militia has launched approximately 50 attacks on both civilian and military ships in the waters off Yemen since the late onset of their assaults last year, a senior US Defense Department official said Thursday.

Despite continued airstrikes by the US and British forces, the Iran-backed Houthis persist in targeting merchant vessels navigating the crucial Red Sea trade route.

“In the Red Sea, the Houthis seek to affect this vital channel for global trade with at least 50 attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels,” Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander told lawmakers.

Initiating their campaign in November, the Houthis have targeted ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their threats extend to Israeli, British, and American vessels, as well as those heading to Israeli ports, resulting in disruptions to maritime traffic along Yemen’s coast.

The consequences of these attacks have led to soaring insurance costs for ships operating along the Red Sea trade route, compelling many shipping companies to opt for the significantly longer route around the southern tip of Africa.