Houthis Launch Missile, Drone Attacks On US Warships (IMAGE @CENTCOM)
Houthis has attacked US warships while they were sailing off the coast of Yemen, said Pentagon. The Yemeni groups have confirmed that it had attacked the US aircraft carrier names Abraham Lincoln, and two US destroyers.
Patrick Ryder, Pentagon spokesperson, said that two US-guided missile destroyers – the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance – were attacked by at least eight one-way attack drones, five antiship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles.
Speaking to reporters, Ryder said that the United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) forces “successfully repelled multiple Iranian backed Houthi attacks during a transit of the Bab al-Mandeb strait”, that connects Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
He said all the drones and missiles from the group were “successfully engaged and defeated”, and neither of the US Navy ships were damaged, no personnel were hurt. He also added that he was not aware of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
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Houthis on Tuesday announced that they had carried out two “specific military operation” against the US Navy in an assault which lasted eight hours.
“The first operation targeted the American aircraft carrier (Abraham) located in the Arabian Sea with a number of cruise missiles and drones”, said Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement. He said that the operation had targeted two American destroyers and had “successfully achieved its objectives”.
The Houthis control large areas of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The group had been carrying out attacks on Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023. They said the attacks are pledge of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Also Read: Did US Navy Accept Defeat To The Houthis?
Reportedly, the Houthis have targeted more than 90 vessels and drones. Four sailors were killed and tow ships sunk, during the attacks. The crew of Galaxy Leader, a British-owned, and Japanese-operated carrier which has been hijacked last November – remain detained in Yemen.
Houthis said that they would end the attacks on ships only when Israel stop its attack on Gaza. The attack on vessels have severely disrupted trade on one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
