Jerusalem (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels launched an anti-ship cruise missile at a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea. However, a U.S. fighter jet successfully intercepted and destroyed the missile. The incident occurred amid global shipping tensions, coinciding with Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
This Sunday attack signifies the first acknowledged strike by the Houthis since the United States and its allies initiated strikes on Friday against the rebels. The strikes come in response to weeks of Houthi assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have specifically targeted the vital corridor connecting Asian and Middle Eastern energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal. The route continues to Europe, heightening concerns about the Israel-Hamas conflict expanding into a broader regional crisis.
The Houthis, a Shiite insurgent faction aligned with Iran, which captured Yemen's capital in 2014, did not promptly admit responsibility for the assault.
It remains uncertain if the U.S. will respond to the recent attack. President Joe Biden has emphasized his readiness to authorize additional actions to safeguard both the American people and the unimpeded movement of global trade.
On Sunday, the Houthi attack was directed toward the USS Laboon, a destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class stationed in the southern expanse of the Red Sea, according to the U.S. military's Central Command.
The projectile originated in close proximity to Hodeida, a Red Sea port city under prolonged Houthi control, as reported by the United States.
"From Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen, an anti-ship cruise missile, backed by Iran, was launched towards USS Laboon," Central Command reported. "No injuries or damages were reported."
The inaugural day of U.S.-led strikes on Friday targeted 28 locations, hitting over 60 objectives using cruise missiles and bombs from fighter jets, warships, and a submarine. The strikes impacted weapon depots, radars, and command centers, spanning remote mountainous regions, as per the U.S.
The extent of damage from the strikes is yet unacknowledged by the Houthis, who claimed five fatalities and six injuries among their troops.
In response, U.S. forces conducted a follow-up strike on a Houthi radar site on Saturday.
Shipping in the Red Sea has decelerated due to the attacks. The U.S. Navy cautioned American-flagged vessels on Friday to avoid Yemen's Red Sea and Gulf of Aden areas for 72 hours after the initial airstrikes.
The Houthis claimed, without evidence, that the U.S. struck a site near Hodeida on Sunday, coinciding with the cruise missile launch. The U.S. and the UK didn't acknowledge any such strike, suggesting it might be a misfired Houthi missile.
Since November, the rebels have targeted Red Sea ships, citing retaliation for Israel's Gaza offensive. However, they often hit vessels with vague or no clear ties to Israel, endangering global trade through a critical route.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, indirectly referred to expanding Houthi ship attacks, blaming U.S. strikes for escalating maritime tensions. Nasrallah emphasized the risk the Red Sea strikes pose to overall maritime security, potentially fueling broader conflicts. Despite attempts to ease tensions, the strikes raise the specter of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia, backing the Yemeni government-in-exile against the Houthis, sought to distance itself from attacks on Houthi sites. This move aims to preserve a delicate détente with Iran and uphold the cease-fire in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-supported war, commencing in 2015, has resulted in over 150,000 fatalities, comprising both combatants and civilians. It has spawned one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, claiming tens of thousands more lives.
The U.S. military did not explicitly state that the fire targeted the Laboon, maintaining a consistent pattern since the onset of Houthi attacks. However, U.S. sailors have been recognized with combat ribbons for their actions in the Red Sea, a distinction reserved for those facing active hostilities with an adversary.
