- US military destroys Houthi missile threatening American aircraft in Yemen, marking latest encounter with Iran-backed rebels.
- Preemptive strikes against Houthi targets in response to missile and drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
- US working with allies to deter, degrade, and disrupt Houthi attacks; also conducting strikes against other Iranian proxy groups in the Middle East.
Additional Coverage:
- Houthi rebels took aim at a US aircraft, but the military blew their missiles up before they got a shot off (businessinsider.com)
The US military destroyed a Houthi missile that posed a threat to a US aircraft on Wednesday. The surface-to-air missile was ready to launch from a position in Yemen, according to US Central Command. This is the latest preemptive action taken by the US, which has destroyed multiple Houthi missiles.
US forces destroyed a Houthi missile in Yemen that presented an immediate threat to American aircraft, according to the US military. The engagement marks the latest encounter between Western militaries and the Iran-backed rebels. The missile was hit and destroyed by American forces at around 3:30 p.m. local time. CENTCOM did not provide further details about the engagement.
The Pentagon has been taking preemptive action against the Houthis, conducting strikes on their targets as they prepared to launch missiles into international shipping lanes off the coast of Yemen. In previous instances, the munitions were identified as anti-ship missiles, but this time a surface-to-air missile was the target.
Aside from US military actions, American and British forces have also conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting air-defense systems, missile launchers, radars, and weapons storage facilities. These actions have been in response to months of missile and drone attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The US and its allies are working together to deter, degrade, and disrupt the Houthis’ ability to carry out these attacks, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Less than a day before this preemptive strike, the Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen towards the Red Sea. The missile was successfully shot down by the USS Gravely, but it’s unclear if any commercial ships were in the area. No injuries or damages were reported.
In addition to the Houthis, the US has also conducted strikes against other Iranian proxy groups in the Middle East that have engaged in provocative actions. This includes militias in Iraq and Syria that have launched over 160 attacks on US forces in the region since mid-October, using drones, rockets, and missiles. The deadliest attack was carried out on Sunday, when a one-way attack drone hit a US military outpost in Jordan, resulting in the death of three troops and injuries to many more. The Biden administration has attributed the attack to Iran-backed militias and has pledged to retaliate.