Pentagon Confirms Houthi Attacks on US Warships off Yemeni Coast

In a significant escalation in the troubled waters off the coast of Yemen, the United States warships have faced a severe threat from the Iran-backed Houthi group. The Pentagon has verified that on Tuesday, two US warships, the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance, experienced a coordinated missile and drone offensive. The Houthi fighters claimed responsibility for these attacks, alleging successful strikes on the US naval forces, including the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.

Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, firmly stated during a news briefing that Central Command forces valiantly repelled the assaults while transiting the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. This narrow waterway serves as a maritime link between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is vital for global trade. Ryder specified that a combination of one-way drones, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles targeted the US vessels, but American defenses effectively countered the assault, resulting in no damages or injuries to the personnel.

Despite the Houthi claims of targeting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with cruise missiles and drones, General Ryder reported no such attacks on the carrier were known to CENTCOM. The discrepancy between the accounts highlights the fog of ongoing conflations in the region.

These developments occur amidst a broader backdrop of regional instability, with the Houthis increasingly targeting maritime routes in a professed bid to support Palestinians. Their attacks since November 2023 have precipitated a chain of repercussions, disrupting one of the world's most critical seaways and drawing responses from the international community. The group has reportedly endangered over 90 vessels, causing the death of four sailors, the sinking of two ships, and the seizing of others, including the Galaxy Leader.

The United States and the United Kingdom have been striking back, targeting Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen. With Sunday's air strikes on Sanaa and the Amran governorate and previous engagements where B-2 bombers were deployed, the US has displayed its commitment to countering threats that jeopardize regional stability and freedom of navigation.

The intense device to secure maritime routes against such aggression underscores the global implications of the conflict in Yemen. These incidents signal a concerning trend of escalating aggression in international waters, with vital trade lines and strategic military assets now directly embroiled in the regional power play.