- Houthi rebels in Yemen launched missiles and drones at U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea, but U.S. defenses intercepted the attacks. The strikes were in response to U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets.
- The U.S. aims to weaken Houthi military capabilities after months of attacks on Red Sea shipping routes.
- Dozens of Houthi military sites were targeted, including missile launchers and air defense systems.
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have launched a missile and drone attack against U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea on Sunday, March 16. The attacks came a day after President Donald Trump ordered large-scale airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The Houthis said they fired 18 ballistic missiles and a drone at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier group in two separate attacks over 24 hours. The group called the strike an effort to “thwart a hostile attack the enemy was preparing to launch against our country.”
However, a U.S. official told ABC News that none of the missiles or drones came close to hitting American vessels. According to the official, the Houthis launched 11 drones and one ballistic missile.
U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted 10 drones, while a Navy F/A-18 shot down one more. The missile fell into the water, far from U.S. naval forces.
Why did the US launch airstrikes in Yemen?
The U.S. strikes on Saturday, March 15, were part of an ongoing effort to weaken the Houthis’ military capabilities after months of attacks on Red Sea shipping routes. The group has repeatedly targeted commercial and military vessels in the region, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Trump vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis ceased their operations. In a social media post, he stated, “They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.”
What was the impact of the US airstrikes?
The March 15 airstrikes targeted dozens of Houthi military sites, including missile launchers, radars and air defense systems. The Yemeni Health Ministry, controlled by the Houthis, reported 53 people killed and 98 injured.
Witnesses described powerful explosions that shook buildings, with Houthi media circulating images of civilians, including children, receiving medical treatment.
U.S. officials framed the strikes as the start of a broader effort to degrade the Houthis’ military capabilities.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told ABC’s “This Week” that the operation “targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out.” He also said the strikes sent a message to Iran, which the U.S. accuses of arming and funding the group.
What are the broader implications?
The escalation has raised concerns about regional stability, particularly given Iran’s backing of the Houthis.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard denied involvement, saying Iran “plays no role in setting the national or operational policies” of the Houthis. However, the U.S. has repeatedly accused Tehran of supplying advanced weaponry, including drones and missiles.
The United Nations urged both sides to de-escalate, warning that continued military action could further destabilize global shipping and worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis vowed to “meet escalation with escalation” and called for protests against U.S. actions. Meanwhile, the U.S. has signaled its willingness to continue military operations as regional tensions continue to rise.
