The Yemeni-based Houthi terrorist organization launched two successful attacks against the imperialist infidel Americans, that is, at least, according to the Houthis.
The Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen claimed on Monday to have launched two separate missile and drone attacks on the United States Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in response to a U.S. airstrike on Saturday.
“CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue…,” the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on X. CENTCOM shared videos of F/A-18 Super Hornets launching from the flight deck and missiles fired from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64).
The strikes were carried out after the Houthis announced “that the group would resume its attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to Israel cutting off food and humanitarian aid to Gaza,” USNI News reported.
The Houthis said it would maintain a naval blockade on Israeli vessels.
Soon after, the White House ordered the United States to carry out the targeted attack on the Tehran-back group’s positions in Yemen.
“Today, President Trump ordered a series of military operations to defend U.S. shipping assets in the Red Sea and deter enemy threats to U.S. interests,” the Department of Defense (DoD) also announced.
“Houthi attacks on American ships and aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated.”
More Houthi Propaganda
The Houthis have further claimed to have carried out two more attacks with multiple ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, on the U.S. Navy carrier and its escorts.
The terrorist organization alleged that at least fifty-three people, including civilians, were killed in the U.S. strikes while more than a hundred were injured.
“The American aggression is a failure and will continue to fail. It will not achieve its goals of making us back down from our position or undermining our country’s military capabilities because we are living a jihadist experience and have been resisting American aggression for many years. We will respond to escalation with escalation, targeting their aircraft carriers and warships and imposing a blockade on their ships,” Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Houthis, proclaimed in an official statement.
There have been no reports of damage to any U.S. warships, but the Houthis have claimed on multiple occasions to have struck and even inflicted severe damage to U.S. Navy vessels.
Last June, the rebel group said it had successfully targeted USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and claimed it was forced to return to port. Fake images and satirical posts were subsequently reposted and shared by Houthi and even Iranian media that further purported the carrier had taken damage.
More Intense Methods for Dealing with Houthis
Even though the U.S. Navy has been successful in countering the Houthi attacks, it has been an expensive effort. Air defense missiles cost millions, while drones can cost just a few thousand dollars. The inexpensive unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are a force multiplier.
The U.S. Navy has explored alternative options, including lasers, but given the choice of risking a multi-billion dollar carrier and the lives of the crew, it is something that a price can’t be put on.
Moreover, the cost of the air defenses and the toll they have taken on the crews of the U.S. Navy vessels remain a grave concern.
During her late 2023 deployment to the region, the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64) engaged in a ten-hour battle with the Houthis, the most intense combat by a U.S. Navy vessel since the Second World War. Equally intense operations could continue as the Houthis show no signs of backing down, while Washington is unlikely to leave the region either.
While Trump supporters have called for the United States to disengage from “forever wars,” this is one that literally could last forever.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ Mohammad Bash.
