Anti-Ship Missile
In a significant escalation of tensions in the Red Sea, Yemen’s army fired an anti-ship cruise missile towards an American destroyer on Sunday in response to joint U.S.-British airstrikes on specific sites within Yemen. The airstrikes occurred as forces loyal to the Ansarallah movement targeted vessels bound for Israel in retaliation to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
This marked the first U.S.-acknowledged incident of Yemen’s army firing at an American vessel. The USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was the target of the missile attack, operating in the southern reaches of the Red Sea, according to the U.S. military’s Central Command. The missile originated from near Hodeida, a Red Sea port city held by the Ansarallah movement.
Central Command reported, “An anti-ship cruise missile was fired from… (the) Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon.” Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damage resulting from the missile strike.
Despite the U.S. and the United Kingdom not acknowledging any airstrikes in the region, the possibility of a misfired Ansarallah missile causing the blast was suggested. Yemen, however, has consistently maintained its commitment to free navigation in the Red Sea, contrary to claims by the U.S. and its allies.
The incident underscores the heightened tensions in the region and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with retaliatory actions involving maritime routes and military engagements intensifying between various factions. The situation raises concerns about the potential for further escalation and the impact on regional stability. Efforts to de-escalate and find diplomatic resolutions will likely be crucial in the coming days.
