Houthi Rebels’ Anti-Ship Missile Thwarted by U.S. Fighter Jet in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels attempted to strike an American destroyer with an anti-ship cruise missile in the Red Sea on Sunday, in the latest incident impacting global shipping dynamics. The U.S. swiftly responded, shooting down the missile with a fighter jet. This marks the first acknowledged Houthi attack since the commencement of U.S.-led strikes against the rebels on Friday, following weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.

The strategic corridor connecting Asian and Middle Eastern energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal, onward to Europe, has become a focal point of Houthi aggression amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attacks raise concerns of a potential regional conflagration.

The Houthi rebel group, aligned with Iran and in control of Yemen’s capital since 2014, did not immediately claim responsibility for the missile strike. The U.S. military’s Central Command reported that the missile was fired from Houthi-held areas near Hodeida, a Red Sea port city.

While it remains uncertain whether the U.S. will retaliate for this latest attack, President Joe Biden has affirmed a commitment to taking further measures to protect international commerce and the safety of U.S. citizens.

The first day of U.S.-led strikes targeted 28 locations, hitting over 60 targets using cruise missiles and bombs from various platforms. These strikes, which included weapon depots, radars, and command centers, have not been officially acknowledged by the Houthis, who reported casualties among their troops.

As a consequence of the attacks, shipping through the Red Sea has slowed, prompting the U.S. Navy to issue warnings to American-flagged vessels to avoid specified areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for 72 hours after the initial airstrikes.