NEW YORK, December 29. /TASS/. The United States missile destroyer USS Mason shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"The USS Mason <...> shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis between 5:45 - 6:10 p.m. (Sanaa time) [2:45-3:10 p.m. GMT] on December 28. There was no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or reported injuries," the CENTCOM wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Following the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Yemen-based Houthis rebels said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships associated with Israel from passing through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave was halted. The US authorities responded by announcing the establishment of an international coalition and preparing Operation Prosperity Guardian to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, Spain and the UK are expected to take part in the operation.