The US military reported that its forces intercepted a missile and three drones launched towards a US destroyer in the Red Sea on Tuesday, following the Houthi announcement in Yemen of targeting two US warships in the region.
For months, the Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, and US and British airstrikes have so far been unsuccessful in stopping their threat to maritime shipping lines.
The military stated in a press release that “US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile and three offensive drone systems directed at the destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Red Sea, launched from areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.”
It added, “No injuries or damage to the ship occurred,” noting that US forces later destroyed three anti-ship missiles and three maritime drones in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.
Earlier in the day, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed their forces targeted two US warships in the Red Sea “with several sea missiles and drones.”
Saree vowed on social media that Houthi attacks will not cease “until the aggression stops and the blockade on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.”
Since November 19, the Houthi rebels have been launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, suspecting them to be linked to Israel or headed to its ports, claiming this supports the Gaza Strip amidst the war between Hamas and Israel since October 7.
These attacks significantly impacted maritime navigation off the Yemeni coast, prompting many shipping companies to avoid passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, replacing this passage, through which 12% of global maritime trade flows, with a route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, resulting in increased shipping costs and extended delivery times.
In an attempt to deter the Yemeni rebels, US and British forces began launching strikes on their positions in Yemen since January 12. The US military periodically conducts strikes it claims target locations or missiles and drones prepared for launch.
The Houthis possess a range of weaponry, including drones and anti-ship missiles, some of which are reportedly supplied by Iran. Their arsenal includes Iranian-made Toofan missiles, Tankil missiles with a range of about 300 miles, and Quds Z-0 cruise missiles capable of hitting both land and sea targets. The Houthis have also displayed their ability to launch attacks using drones such as the Qasef-1, Qasef-2K, and the Sammad series, which have been used in their near-daily attacks in the Red Sea. These attacks have caused considerable disruption to maritime trade, with many shipping companies rerouting their vessels to avoid the risk, leading to increased shipping costs and extended delivery times.
