Houthis Launch First Strike on U.S. Warship in Red Sea Post U.S.-Led Assaults

On Sunday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched an anti-ship cruise missile aimed at a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea. The missile was intercepted and destroyed by a U.S. fighter jet. This incident is the latest in a series of events affecting global shipping, coinciding with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The attack represents the first time the Houthis have directly targeted U.S. forces since the United States and its allies initiated military action against the rebel group last Friday. This action was a response to several weeks of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, a Shiite group with ties to Iran, have been focusing their attacks on the Red Sea shipping corridor. This strategic route is vital for transporting Asian and Middle Eastern energy and cargo to Europe via the Suez Canal. Their attacks are linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and pose a threat of escalating the situation into a broader regional conflict.

The Houthi group, which took control of Yemen’s capital in 2014, has not officially admitted to this latest assault. The U.S. response to the attack remains uncertain, although President Joe Biden has expressed his commitment to protecting American people and ensuring the freedom of international commerce.

The missile was launched in the direction of the USS Laboon, a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the southern Red Sea. The missile originated from Hodeida, a Red Sea port under Houthi control. Despite the missile launch, there were no reported injuries or damage.

On the first day of the U.S.-led military operation, 28 locations were targeted, including weapon depots and command centers. Over 60 targets were hit by a combination of cruise missiles and bombs from jets, warships, and a submarine. The extent of damage inflicted on the Houthis and the impact on their military capabilities are not fully known, although the Houthis reported some casualties.

Additional U.S. military actions included a strike on a Houthi radar site on Saturday. These ongoing conflicts have slowed shipping through the Red Sea, leading the U.S. Navy to advise American-flagged vessels to avoid certain areas near Yemen for safety.

The Houthis have accused the U.S. of launching an attack near Hodeida around the same time as the missile launch, but this claim lacks evidence and has not been acknowledged by the U.S. or the UK. The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, ongoing since November, have been partly justified as retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza, despite many targeted ships having no clear links to Israel.

The Biden administration and its allies have been working to reduce tensions in the Middle East, but these strikes and escalating conflicts risk igniting a larger confrontation. Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government against the Houthis, is attempting to distance itself from the attacks and maintain a fragile ceasefire in Yemen. The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which started in 2015 with Saudi-led and U.S.-backed intervention, has resulted in significant loss of life and a severe humanitarian crisis.

While the U.S. military has not confirmed that the USS Laboon was the specific target of the Houthi fire, U.S. sailors have been recognized for their actions in the Red Sea, suggesting

they faced active hostilities. This acknowledgment comes in the form of combat ribbons, awarded only under conditions of direct enemy engagement.