U.S. forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-back Houthi unmanned surface vessels in the Red Sea in the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Thursday.

CENTCOM forces also destroyed a radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

The uncrewed surface vessels (USV) and the radar site “presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” the statement said. “These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.”

Central Command provided no further details on the attack.

The Houthis have used one-way, unmanned attack boats to target shipping in the region’s sea lanes since at least January.

The U.S. Navy and allied partners have patrolled the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden this year to counter attempts by Houthi insurgents in Yemen to interrupt commercial shipping.

The Houthi campaign was launched in sympathy with the Palestinian territory of Gaza following the Israeli army invasion of the territory. The Israelis began the invasion following an Oct. 7 attack on their territory by Hamas militants that killed approximately 1,200 people.