CENTCOM press release
Between 3 and 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), the USS LABOON (DDG 58) was patrolling in the Southern Red Sea as part of Operation PROSPERITY GUARDIAN (OPG) and shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound to the USS LABOON. There were no injuries or damage in this incident.
At approximately 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command received reports from two ships in the Southern Red Sea that they were under attack. The M/V BLAAMANEN, a Norwegian-flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker, reported a near miss of a Houthi one-way attack drone with no injuries or damage reported.
A second vessel, the M/V SAIBABA, a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, reported that it was hit by a one-way attack drone with no injuries reported. The USS LABOON (DDG 58) responded to the distress calls from these attacks. These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since Oct. 17.
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About Operation Prosperity Guardian
In command terms, ‘Prosperity Guardian’ will operate under the existing CTF 153/CMF construct. CTF 153 is an at-sea command, supported by CMF staff ashore in Bahrain. In this sense, ‘Prosperity Guardian’ is not a new operation, but an application of CTF 153 resources to provide a focus of effort at a particular time in a particular operational space. A ship could contribute to ‘Prosperity Guardian’ by operating as part of CTF 153, or else by operating in partnership alongside it.
With ‘Prosperity Guardian’ ‘nested’ under CTF 153, “Countries have a framework now upon which to pull together and address these [requirements] together,” said Maj Gen Ryder.
Prior to the establishment of ‘Prosperity Guardian’, ships from three navies – the US Navy, French Navy (Marine Nationale), and UK Royal Navy – had conducted operations to protect commercial ships from attack. These ships all demonstrated robust air-defence capability. For example, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the US Navy DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney successfully engaged a wave of 14 UAVs on 16 December. Other ships operating within or alongside CTF 153 bring organic air-defence capability.
Ships participating in ‘Prosperity Guardian’ operate under their own national mandates. As the ‘Prosperity Guardian’ task force commenced operations, attempted attacks continued. On 18 December, CENTCOM reported a UAV and ASBM attack on the tanker MV Swan Atlantic in the Red Sea; Carney responded. Separately, CENTCOM said the bulk cargo ship MV Clara had reported an explosion in the water near its position. Incidents were occurring south of Bab-el-Mandeb, too. On 19 December, the UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) – an RN-hosted information conduit between commercial shipping and military/security forces – reported that UAVs and possible boarding parties were operating southeast of the straits.
