Pentagon officials confirmed that U.S. destroyers defended against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists after U.S. Central Command conducted airstrikes against Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen.
In a Wednesday press release, Central Command confirmed that the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance destroyers responded alongside U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft and “successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.”
Central Command added, “These forces successfully engaged and defeated eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), five anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and four anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel.”
According to Wednesday’s press release, the Houthi terrorist attack did not result in any personnel injuries or damage to the U.S. destroyers. Central Command officials noted that the defensive actions taken against the Houthi terrorists are consistent with the military’s goal in the Middle East to “protect U.S. personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, while maintaining security and stability in the region.”
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Officials also warned that Central Command will continue to take steps to “address any threats” to the stability of the Middle East region.
According to Central Command’s press release, the Houthi attack against U.S. destroyers in the Middle East came after multiple airstrikes were launched against Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen. Central Command officials confirmed that U.S. forces conducted strikes against the weapons facilities on Saturday and Sunday.
“These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” Central Command said. “The operation involved U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets to include the F-35C.”
Central Command explained that the U.S. strikes against the Houthi facilities were conducted in response to the terrorist group’s “repeated and unlawful attacks” against U.S. military vessels, commercial shipping vessels, and U.S. allies in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Officials added that the strikes were intended to “degrade” the terrorist group’s ability to “threaten regional partners.”
Alongside Wednesday’s press release, Central Command shared a video of one of the latest strikes against the Houthi terrorist group.
