U.S. Navy Destroyers Shoot Down Houthi-Launched Drone & Anti-Ship Missiles In Bal al-Mandab Strait

Two U.S. Navy destroyers intercepted and destroyed a series of missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi forces while transiting the Bal al-Mandab Strait on November 11, 2024, the Pentagon reported.

The Houthis launched about three anti-ship cruise missiles, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and eight drones at the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance destroyers in a coordinated attack.

Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, confirmed that neither ship was damaged and no personnel were harmed during the incident.

Before the attacks, the Houthi forces announced two separate military operations against U.S. vessels in the region.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said that the first attack targeted a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea using drones and missiles.

According to Sarea, a second operation was soon launched, with missiles and drones at the two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea.

Though the Houthis claimed that aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was one of the targets, General Ryder confirmed that no attacks were reported against the carrier.

Since October 7, the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have increased their attacks on international vessels in the region. The Houthis have said that they are targeting ships they believe to be linked to Israel.

In response, the U.S. and its allies have launched retaliatory attacks against Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen. The Pentagon continues to monitor the area.

General Ryder reaffirmed that the U.S. Navy remains cautious in the region and ready to respond to new threats, with forces ready to protect American assets and personnel operating in the Arabian Sea and Red Sea.

References: Reuters, BBC

Source: Maritime Shipping News