US Army Denies Houthi Claims of Attack on USS Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier

On Saturday, July 2, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement rejecting claims by Iranian-backed Houthi militants regarding an attack on the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier. As tensions escalate in the Red Sea, the Houthis announced that they had attacked the USS Eisenhower in two separate military operations in the Red Sea and the 'Trans World Navigator' ship in the Arabian Sea. Previously, a Pentagon spokesperson had also denied the Houthi claims. Meanwhile, CENTCOM announced that the USS Eisenhower, along with its strike group, is returning to the United States, and the nuclear-powered USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group will be stationed in the CENTCOM area of operations. The shipping industry has called for immediate action to stop Houthi maritime attacks. CENTCOM also stated that its forces destroyed three unmanned surface vessels (drone boats) belonging to the Houthis in the Red Sea, which posed an immediate threat to commercial vessels and US Navy ships in the region. The US military added, 'These actions are aimed at protecting freedom of navigation and making international waters safer for the US Navy and commercial vessels.' According to the report, Iranian-backed Houthi militants also launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from their controlled area in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM added, 'No casualties or significant damage to commercial vessels and other ships in this area have been reported.' The Iranian-backed Houthis claim that they have begun attacking vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea in support of the Palestinian people against Israeli attacks, although the scope of these attacks has expanded to other international ships as well. Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea have disrupted global transport through the Suez Canal, forcing shipping companies to choose longer and more expensive routes around the southern tip of Africa. Meanwhile, a Houthi spokesman announced that in a joint operation with Iraqi militants, they targeted four ships in Haifa port in northern Israel. According to IRNA, Yahya Saree stated that in this operation, two cement-carrying ships and two cargo ships were targeted by a joint drone attack. Israel has not yet responded to this report.