Yemen’s Houthis attacked US warships with drones, missiles

WASHINGTON: Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two US destroyers with drones and missiles as they transited the Bab al-Mandab Strait, but the warships defeated the attacks, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The ships “were attacked by at least eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles, which were successfully engaged and defeated,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists.

“The vessels were not damaged, no personnel were hurt,” Ryder said of the Monday attacks.

Yemen’s Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza – a significant international security challenge that threatens a major shipping lane.

The US and other countries have deployed military vessels to help shield shipping from the Houthi strikes, but acknowledgement of attacks directly targeting American warships is rare.

Washington’s forces have also carried out frequent air strikes on the Huthis in a bid to degrade their ability to target shipping, and have sought to seize weapons before they reach the rebels, but their attacks have persisted.