Successful U.S. Navy Response to Houthi Attack on Two Warships

Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked two U.S. Navy warships by launching several drones and missiles. However, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Tuesday that these attacks were unsuccessful. According to the Associated Press, a Pentagon spokesperson stated that the Iran-backed Houthis fired at least eight drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles at the USS Stackley and USS Spruance. Pat Ryder noted that the Houthi attack was 'successfully' countered, with no damage or injuries reported. The attack occurred while the ships were transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, through which approximately $1 trillion worth of goods typically pass. The Houthis have been targeting shipping through this strait for months. In response, U.S. forces and their allies have conducted several coordinated airstrikes against Houthi missile launch sites and their weapon depots, and the U.S. has organized an international coalition to protect commercial vessels passing through the area, but Houthi attacks have not ceased. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed in a pre-recorded statement on Tuesday that the Houthis targeted the two American destroyers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones. Reports of an attack on a commercial vessel have also emerged. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center stated that no one was injured in the explosions and that the ship continued its journey. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 90 commercial vessels with missiles and drones under the pretext of supporting the Palestinians. They have seized one ship and sunk two others, resulting in the deaths of four sailors in these attacks. The Pentagon reported on attacks against Houthi targets backed by the Iranian government. Israel confirmed its involvement in the explosion of Hezbollah pagers. The rhetoric of the Islamic Republic has intensified amid the peak of the Middle East crisis. An exclusive Reuters report indicated that satellite images showed an Israeli attack on Iranian missile facilities.