The Pentagon stated that a U.S. vessel in the Red Sea had “engaged a drone that originated from Yemen and was heading in the direction of the ship… The [USS Thomas] Hudner’s crew engaged and shot down the drone to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel. There were no U.S. casualties or any damage to the ship”. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, asked about Iran’s involvement, said: “We really didn’t want this crisis [ie, Israel-Gaza war] to expand. But the U.S. has been intensifying the war in Gaza by throwing its support behind Israel. Yemen makes its own decisions and acts independently”.