LONDON — The United States has conducted six defense strikes and fired 18 anti-ship missiles in Yemen after the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea, according to the United States Central Command.
The Iranian-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas into the Red Sea toward merchant vessel Pinocchio, a Singaporean-owned, Liberian-flagged ship, between 8:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. local time on Monday, according to CENTCOM.
“The missiles did not impact the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported,” CENTCOM said.
In retaliation to the initial strikes, “United States Central Command conducted six self-defense strikes destroying an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen” between 2:50 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. shortly after the initial strikes, CENTCOM said detailing their operation.
An aerial view of the Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze following a Houthi missile attack at sea, March 6, 2024, in this handout photo.
Dvids/via Reuters
“It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region,” officials said. “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”
When the initial attacks began last November, the Houthi rebels initially framed them as a method of pressuring Israel to stop the war that was launched following the Oct. 7 terror attacks. However, as shippers began to avoid the regions of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the rebels strikes still continued.
The U.S. and coalition warships have been responding by shooting down any Houthi fire that’s come near them which has left the Houthis targeting commercial ships with little to no protection.
Since the U.S. began its campaign of airstrikes in January, the U.S. military says it has shot down and destroyed more 100 Houthi missiles, according to an Associated Press analysis of its statements, but the onslaught from the Houthi rebels, meanwhile, has shown no signs of abating.
ABC News’ Lauren Minore contributed to this report.
The United States recently conducted defensive airstrikes in response to Houthi rebels firing anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea. The strikes were carried out in order to protect American personnel and interests in the region, as well as to deter further aggression from the Houthis.
The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The rebels have frequently targeted commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea, posing a threat to international maritime trade and security.
In this latest incident, the Houthis launched several anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US Navy destroyer operating in the region. The missiles were intercepted and destroyed by the ship’s missile defense systems, but the attack prompted the US to respond with defensive airstrikes against Houthi military installations.
The US has made it clear that it will not tolerate attacks on its personnel or assets, and will take necessary action to defend itself and its allies. The airstrikes were a clear message to the Houthis that such provocations will not go unanswered.
The situation in Yemen remains volatile, with ongoing fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, as well as a humanitarian crisis that has left millions of people in need of assistance. The US has been providing support to the Yemeni government and its allies in their efforts to combat the Houthi insurgency, but the conflict shows no signs of abating.
The recent defensive airstrikes serve as a reminder of the complex and dangerous dynamics at play in the region, and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among international partners to address the root causes of instability and violence. The US remains committed to protecting its interests and ensuring the security of the region, and will not hesitate to take action when necessary to defend against threats posed by groups like the Houthis.
