Houthis claim attacking US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in Red Sea

#Houthi rebels from the #Yemen-based Ansar Allah movement have delivered a strike on the US aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea, the movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

"Our missile troops have conducted an operation attacking the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower with ballistic and cruise missiles in the northern part of the Red Sea. The operation has successfully achieved its goals," he told the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel.

Additionally, the rebels attacked the Transworld Navigator bulk carrier with ballistic missiles in the Arabian Sea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P1qllFpbEs

Yemen's #Ansarullah announce 6 new naval operations

1. The targeting of the USS #Eisenhower aircraft carrier, for the second time within 24 hours, with missiles and drones in the Red Sea.

2. The targeting of an American warship in the Red Sea with drones, leading to several direct hits.

3 & 4. The targeting of the 'MAINA' ship twice, once in the Red Sea and once in the Arabian Sea, for violating the embargo.

5. The targeting of the 'ALORAIQ' ship in the Indian Ocean, for violating the embargo.

6. The targeting of the 'ABLIANI' ship in the Red Sea, for violating the embargo.

US, UK pummel #Houthi sites across #Yemen as Red Sea attacks escalate

In 4th joint operation, fighter jets hit 18 targets in 8 locations; Iran-backed rebels denounce ‘US-British aggression’ while Washington admits Houthis yet to be deterred

The US and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed rebel group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel.

According to US officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones, and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.

This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12. But the US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The US F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said.

“The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.”

Houthi Attack on International Shipping - CENTCOM Statement:

🔶️ On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting.

🔶️ Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34). This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. There were no injuries or damage reported.

🔶️ On Jan. 3, 14 countries, including the U.S, issued a joint statement stating, "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."

'Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea' | CENTCOM Statement

🔶️ "On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment."

🔶️ Timeline:

Dec 14th: Maersk Gibraltar targeted by a missile.

Dec 15th: Maersk reroutes all ships around Africa

Dec 16th: Other large container ship owners reroute

Dec 26th: Maersk announces return to Red Sea

Dec 27th: Hapag-Lloyd & MSC say it's still too dangerous

Dec 29th: Maersk admits it's dangerous and pays crew double wages while transiting the Red Sea.

Dec 30th: Houthis shoot 3 missiles at Maersk Hangzhou. USS Gravely shoots down 2. One missile hits Maersk Hangzhou. Maersk ship continues sailing

Dec 31st: 4 armed Houthi boats swarm ship. Maersk security team opens fire. US Navy helicopters respond and sink 3 boats, killing the crew.

Two U.S. Navy Amphibs Leave Red Sea Despite Houthi Attacks on Shipping

🔶️ The two U.S. Navy amphibs that were deployed to the Red Sea to deter Iranian-allied Houthi rebels have now been withdrawn to the Mediterranean, though attacks by Houthi forces continue unabated.

🔶️ On Thursday, USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall - two-thirds of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) - transited north through the Suez Canal. They are headed to meet up with the third vessel in their unit, USS Mesa Verde, and will reassemble as a full ARG.

🔶️ So far, the Biden administration has chosen not to use these capabilities (or other U.S. Navy and SOCOM assets) to counter the Houthi threat to merchant shipping. Since the beginning of the Israeli operation in Gaza, Houthi rebels have seized one Israeli-linked merchant ship and launched more than 100 drones and missiles at vessel targets in the Red Sea, including U.S. Navy warships.

🔶️ Saudi Arabia has reportedly urged the White House to refrain from striking Houthi launch sites, for several reasons. The Houthi movement is closely tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and it receives substantial financial and material support from Iran. Attacking Houthi units on the ground could scuttle ceasefire talks between Saudi leaders and Houthi forces, and simultaneously set back Saudi attempts to normalize relations with Iran. The Houthis also have the capability to retaliate by launching missiles at Saudi oil infrastructure, and have done so in the past.

🔶️ USS Bataan and Carter Hall may have a different mission now in the Mediterranean. The carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has had her deployment in the Mediterranean extended twice already in order to maintain deterrence against Iranian-aligned militants in Syria and Lebanon. The reconstituted Bataan ARG might have enough firepower to relieve Ford on station off Israel, allowing allow the carrier to go home at last (as previously planned, noted USNI). The carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was originally scheduled to relieve Ford, is needed in the Gulf of Aden to assist in countering the Houthi drone threat.

U.S. Navy intercepts Iran coastal missiles

The U.S. Navy launched anti-ship missiles to intercept missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea, signaling a major escalation in the region, a senior defense official told Fox News.

The US Navy intercepted 3 ballistic missiles supplied by Iran to the Houthis in Yemen. It was the first time the Navy had intercepted an attacking ballistic missile using an anti-ship ballistic missile.

The U.S. military's Central Command said the destroyer USS Labone and other warships from the task force accompanying the aircraft carrier Eisenhower's Carrier Strike Group shot down 12 suicide drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two surface-to-surface missiles launched by the Houthis during a period of 12 hours.

Iran has recently claimed that it is developing "smart" cruise missiles for its naval military arsenal. Also, nearly 100 drones launched by the Houthis have been shot down since October 17. The Houthi militia has attacked more than 21 international ships in the region, disrupting global shipping.