The US says it has hit five Houthi targets in Yemen, including an underwater drone

The United States on Saturday attacked five Houthi military targets, including an undersea drone, in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The US military announced this on Sunday.

The use of the underwater drone is believed to be the first time the Iran-backed Houthis have used such a weapon since they began their campaign against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on October 23, the military's Central Command said . a statement.

U.S. military officials provided few details about what they called an “unmanned underwater vehicle,” but the Houthis have received much of their drone and missile technology from Iran. In addition to the underwater drone, the Houthis also used a remotely piloted boat, the statement said.

The US struck both the surface drone and the submarine drone and launched other strikes against anti-ship missiles, the military said in its statement, but did not provide precise details on the location.

Maritime drones are becoming an increasingly powerful and effective weapon. Ukraine has deployed naval drones with devastating consequences against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine has deployed both drones that skim the surface of the water and drones that travel underwater to attack Russian ships.

Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official and CIA officer, said the Houthis' use of an underwater drone was significant. He said the Houthis appeared to be adjusting their strategy.

“Unmanned surface and subsurface vessels are likely to be more difficult to detect and destroy than aerial drones and anti-ship missiles,” Mr Mulroy said. “If all of these weapons systems were used against one target, it could overwhelm the ship's defenses.”

The United States Central Command, which oversees operations against the Houthis, said the strikes were carried out on Saturday after determining that the missiles and drones posed a threat to both US naval vessels and commercial vessels.

In late October, the Houthis began a campaign to attack commercial ships, mainly in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, saying the attacks were in solidarity with Palestinians under attack by Israel in Gaza. The stepped-up attacks have prompted an American-led international maritime response, including a series of attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen.

The US has accused Iran of supplying the Houthis and in some cases helping them plan operations. More recently, however, U.S. officials have said that Iran does not have direct control over the Houthis.