The Pentagon has confirmed that Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two U.S. Navy destroyers with drones and missiles as they traveled through the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Monday. Both ships successfully thwarted the attacks, sustaining no damage or casualties, according to Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder.
This series of attacks represents a growing security threat in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, attributed to widespread regional tensions stemming from the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. According to Ryder, the U.S. warships repelled at least eight drones and multiple anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles in the latest incidents, underscoring an uptick in Houthi aggression linked to solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Houthis, supported by Iran, stated that these actions were in response to Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza. The situation has seen increased hostility from various Iran-backed groups across the region, including in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Although the Houthis claimed to have attacked the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as well, Ryder dismissed this report, stating that there was no evidence of an attack on the carrier.
The U.S. military has ramped up protective measures in the region, deploying vessels to secure major shipping lanes affected by Houthi strikes. Although attacks directly targeting U.S. vessels remain rare, the increased frequency of Houthi missile and drone assaults has raised concerns among international security agencies.
In response to this ongoing threat, U.S. forces have launched several air strikes on Houthi weapons storage facilities over the past weekend, targeting sites that house advanced weaponry used in attacks on military and civilian vessels. The strikes, involving both the U.S. Air Force and Navy, aim to reduce the Houthi threat to international shipping.
Ryder also confirmed that U.S. forces in Syria conducted retaliatory air strikes on Iran-backed groups after drone and rocket attacks on American troops stationed in the region. There were no reported American casualties from these attacks, though details on casualties among Houthi operatives remain unconfirmed.
The Biden administration has emphasized its commitment to protecting U.S. and allied vessels in the Red Sea and has condemned the Houthis’ attacks as an escalation in an already volatile security environment.
Sources By Agencies
