Yemen's Houthis Attack US Warships with Drones and Missiles: Pentagon

Photo : Reuters

Yemen's Huthi rebels launched a significant attack on two US destroyers transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Monday, firing drones and missiles at the vessels, according to the Pentagon. However, the US warships successfully defended against the strikes, which included at least eight one-way attack drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder confirmed. He added that the warships were unharmed and no personnel were injured in the attacks.

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The Huthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023, a development that is part of broader regional instability triggered by the ongoing war in Gaza. Multiple groups, including the Huthis, have cited the war as justification for their actions. The Huthis have claimed responsibility for a range of attacks in solidarity with Palestinians, citing Israel's military campaign in Gaza as the catalyst.

In addition to the attacks on US destroyers, the Huthis had claimed that they had also targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. However, General Ryder refuted this claim, asserting that there had been no such attack on the carrier, although he did not disclose its specific location at the time.

The Huthis' actions pose a significant risk to international shipping, particularly in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global shipping lane. In response to these threats, the US and other countries have deployed military vessels to protect international shipping from these strikes. While such attacks on US warships are rare, the situation is part of a wider pattern of escalating violence in the region.

Following the attacks, US forces have taken retaliatory actions. Over the weekend, US military assets, including both the Air Force and Navy, carried out airstrikes on Huthi weapons storage facilities. These sites were believed to hold advanced weapons used by the Iran-backed rebels to target both US and international military and civilian vessels in international waters.

The US military has also targeted Iran-backed groups in Syria in recent days, responding to rocket and drone attacks on American troops in that region. Despite these ongoing clashes, there have been no reported US casualties in these latest strikes, according to Ryder, though he could not confirm if any Huthi operatives were killed or wounded during the airstrikes.

The escalating violence in the region comes amid growing tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have fueled anger and led to increased activity from Iran-aligned groups in several countries, including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The US has also been actively involved in airstrikes aimed at disrupting the Huthis' military capabilities, including efforts to intercept weapons shipments bound for the rebel group. However, despite these efforts, the Huthi's attacks on vessels continue.