Houthi Rebel Attacks on US Warships in Bab al-Mandab Strait
Pentagon reports successful defense against drone and missile strikes
On November 2023, the Houthi rebels from Yemen launched an attack on two US destroyers transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait using drones and missiles.
Despite the use of at least eight unmanned aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, the US warships were unharmed, as reported by Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.
No personnel were injured in these attacks.
The Houthi's claim of targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was dismissed by Ryder, who added that US forces successfully conducted air strikes against Houthi weapons storage facilities over the weekend.
These facilities held advanced conventional weapons used against US and international vessels in international waters.
The attacks are part of a broader regional conflict, with the Houthi citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst heightened tensions from Israel's military campaign.
The United States, and other countries, have reinforced their naval presence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to safeguard shipping lanes.
In related developments, US forces hit Iran-backed groups in Syria following attacks on American personnel, emphasizing ongoing regional security challenges involving militant groups supported by Iran.