Houthis Launch Missile Attacks on US Destroyer; British Merchant Ship Hit

On Friday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with Iranian backing, launched a missile at a US warship, the USS Carney, patrolling the Gulf of Aden. 

The US Navy was compelled to intercept and shoot down the projectile. 

Additionally, the rebels targeted a British vessel, marking a continuation of their aggressive assaults on maritime traffic.

The attack on the USS Carney signifies a heightened level of escalation in the ongoing and significant naval confrontation involving the US Navy in the Middle East.

The anti-ship ballistic missile, originating from Houthi-controlled Yemen, was launched around 1:30 pm local time on Friday. 

The USS Carney successfully intercepted and neutralized the missile, resulting in no damage or injuries.

Later that evening, approximately six hours after the USS Carney incident, the United Kingdom Maritime Operations, overseeing waterways in the Middle East, confirmed that a missile had struck a vessel in the Gulf of Aden, causing it to catch fire.

Missile Strikes British-Owned Vessel Marlin Luanda

At approximately 7:45 pm local time, the anti-ship ballistic missile struck the M/V Marlin Luanda, a vessel with British ownership but registered under the Marshall Islands flag.

Although the ship sustained damage, no injuries were reported. 

The USS Carney, along with other coalition ships, promptly responded to the incident and is providing assistance.

This attack on the USS Carney marks the first instance of direct targeting by the Houthis on a US warship since the initiation of their assaults on shipping in October, as disclosed by an anonymous US official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the absence of authorization to discuss the incident.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree refrained from acknowledging the attack on the Carney but asserted responsibility for the missile strike on the commercial vessel that resulted in it catching fire. 

He specifically identified the targeted vessel as the Marlin Luanda.

Houthis Escalate Attacks on US Warships in the Red Sea

The recent direct attacks by the Houthis on US warships represent a significant and aggressive escalation in their campaign in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. 

The U.S. has been cautious in describing the Houthi strikes, citing difficulty in determining their specific targets, partly to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional war.

Since January 11, the US military has been conducting airstrikes against the Houthis to degrade their capabilities, responding to several weeks of attacks by the militant group on commercial ships. 

The airstrikes include two types: those targeting a broader range of facilities such as storage sites and radar capabilities, and preemptive strikes against Houthi missiles being loaded onto launchers for potential attacks. 

The latter, colloquially referred to as “whack-a-mole” strikes, have become almost a daily occurrence.