Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a sophisticated missile and drone assault on three American Navy destroyers in the Red Sea, as confirmed by the Pentagon on Friday.
Earlier, the Houthis had declared they struck US warships en route to Israel.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed the attack, clarifying that no damage was sustained by the ships. “We witnessed a complex attack involving both cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” she said. “These threats were intercepted or failed to hit any of our vessels.”
The Houthis, according to their media outlet al-Masirah, claimed they targeted three US destroyers, launching 23 ballistic and cruise missiles along with drones. The group stated the attack was part of their broader support for Palestinian resistance, with simultaneous strikes aimed at Israeli targets.
The Houthi spokesman said these type of operations would continue until Israel ceased its offensives in Gaza and Lebanon. The group has been conducting attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since October, citing solidarity with Palestinians as the driving force behind their actions.
In response to these escalating threats, the US and its allies have bolstered naval presence in the region.
Tensions have risen in the region, particularly following heightened clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. Israel’s intensified airstrikes on Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, have been a focal point of regional conflict, adding to the Houthis’ list of demands for an end to Israeli aggression against Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, over 1,300 people have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon as of Friday.
