US Warships Thwart Houthi Missile Attack Following American Strikes

The Pentagon has announced that an assault involving multiple missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against two US naval vessels was successfully intercepted. On Monday, a minimum of eight drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles were directed towards the USS Stockdale and the USS Spruance. The ships successfully downed these incoming munitions and sustained “not damaged and no personnel were hurt,” as stated by Pentagon press secretary Air Force Major Gen Pat Ryder to journalists on Tuesday. This incident occurred after the US Central Command conducted several airstrikes targeting Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen. The rebel organization, supported by Iran, was transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a maritime passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, when the attack took place. Al-Masirah TV, which serves as the primary television news source operated by Yemen’s Houthi movement, reported that multiple airstrikes had struck two US warships and an additional vessel in the Arabian Sea. Yahya al-Sarea, the military spokesperson for the group, declared in a statement posted on X that the rebels had “successfully” bombarded the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier using several cruise missiles. In response, Ryder stated he was “not aware of any attacks” on the Abraham Lincoln vessel. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis there will be consequences for their illegal and reckless attacks,” he affirmed. The Houthis belong to a collection of armed factions in the Middle East supported by Iran, which also comprises Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Since November 2023, they have consistently aimed at commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They have caused two vessels to sink, captured a third of the ships they targeted, and caused the deaths of crew members. The group asserts its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have frequently asserted, often inaccurately, that their targets are exclusively vessels connected to Israel, the US, or the UK. Earlier this year, Operation Prosperity Guardian was initiated by the US, UK, and 12 other nations with the aim of safeguarding Red Sea shipping lanes from the Houthis. In October, the US military announced it had conducted strikes against 15 Houthi targets in Yemen, and multiple explosions were reported in the capital, Sanaa. It has previously indicated its objective is to diminish the Houthis’ capacity to target maritime traffic.