The Houthis clash with US Navy ships in the Gulf of Aden News of the Houthis
The US military says it has intercepted dozens of missiles and drones fired by a group based in Yemen.
The US Navy said its forces successfully repelled an attack by the Houthis, an armed group based in Yemen, while escorting a fleet of three commercial vessels through the Gulf of Aden.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said on Tuesday that two bombers intercepted a series of cruise missiles and drones launched in Yemen.
“Destroyers were escorting three US merchant ships, operated and flagged. This reckless attack resulted in no injuries and no damage to ships, civilians or the US Navy,” said a CENTCOM statement.
CENTCOM Forces Defeat Houthi Attacks on US Navy Ships and Ships Attacked by US Forces in the Gulf of Aden.
US Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS O'Kane (DDG 77) successfully defeated a series of missiles launched by the Houthis while passing through the Gulf of Aden, Dis. 9 – 10.
The… pic.twitter.com/Jz4AtqBuEL
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 10, 2024
US forces in the region have exchanged fire with the Houthis for months, as the group seeks to block certain commercial vessels from sailing in the Red Sea. The group says that those actions are a way to put pressure on Israel's war in Gaza, of which the United States is a major supporter.
But the US has portrayed the Houthi offensive as a threat to trade and freedom of movement.
“These actions demonstrate the continued commitment of CENTCOM forces to protect US personnel, regional partners, and international shipping against attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis,” CENTCOM said.
Three US-flagged commercial ships were en route to Djibouti when the US said they were hit by “malfunctioning aircraft systems” and one cruise missile.
Two US Navy ships, USS Stockdale and USS O'Kane, responded to the attack. Citing an unnamed official, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that a US Navy helicopter and a French Air Force plane also helped repel the attack.
Together, they shot down four drones and a missile, according to AP.
Despite months of US efforts to end the offensive, including multiple strikes in Yemen, the Houthis have continued to target naval and naval vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
At the beginning of this year, the American military reported that the Houthis carried out 27 such attacks in less than two months, from November 19, 2023, to January 11.
The Yemeni group also claimed responsibility for the drone attack in central Israel on Monday.
