Strange States: Yemen’s Houthis
Strange States: Yemen’s Houthis
The Story of the US Navy’s most intense sea fighting since World War II
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“US Navy fighter pilots and sailors returning to the US after months of being deployed to shoot down Houthi missiles and drones over the Red Sea have spoken of the trauma of what is now the navy’s most intense sea fighting since World War II. US pilots tell of ‘traumatizing’ deployment to stop Red Sea attacks by Houthis.
According to The Associated Press (AP), sailors would see incoming missiles just seconds before being destroyed by ship defence systems. Most on the ships were not used to being attacked, Commander Benjamin Orloff, a Navy pilot, said.
‘I’ll be honest: It was a little traumatizing for the group. It’s something that we don’t think about a lot until you’re presented with it,’ he said, A US aircraft carrier strike group deployed to the Red Sea in mid-October. After months of operations to shoot down missiles and drones, the deployment was twice extended placing additional stress on the crew of roughly 7,000 sailors, the AP reports.” (aljazeera.com 7/12/24)
“The Houthis, a Yemeni militia backed by Iran, launched a campaign against Israel shortly after the Gaza war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. During the first six months of the conflict, they fired missiles and drones at least 10 times in the direction of Eilat, the strategic Israeli port on the Red Sea that is roughly 1,000 miles from Sanaa. Only one cruise missile hit Israel, although it did no damage. The Houthis, a religious revival movement among Zaydi Shiites, have repeatedly vowed to continue attacks until the Gaza war ends in solidarity with Hamas.
‘The Houthis will not hesitate to expand their military operations against the Israeli entity to include targets that they do not expect on land or at sea,’ Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said in November 2023. The rhetoric has intensified as the Israeli campaign made military gains in Gaza. The Houthis pledged to escalate unless the ‘siege’ of the Palestinians ended.” (iranprimer.usip.org 4/15/24)
“Tensions soared between the Houthi militia in Yemen and the United States after Houthis seized the crew of a commercial shipping vessel on Nov. 19, 2023. Houthis launched attacks–using drones, missiles, and small boats–on commercial shipping and naval warships in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most important waterways for international commerce. The Houthis initially claimed that they were targeting commercial ships on their way to or linked to Israel to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The United States responded on December 18 by launching Operation Prosperity Guardian, a coalition of more than 20 countries with a mandate to protect international shipping. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said its mission was “to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.
On January 11, 2024, the United States mobilized Operation Poseidon Archer, a separate coalition willing to conduct offensive operations to degrade Houthi military capabilities. It included the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, and the Netherlands. ‘It is something that CENTCOM has named in terms of multilateral strikes and dynamic strikes within Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen,’ Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on January 25. The coalition launched more than 10 airstrikes on Houthi missile, radar, and storage facilities in January.
The Operation Poseidon Archer signaled that the United States would ‘not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,’ President Joe Biden said on January 11. ‘I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.’ Biden also repeatedly warned regional players backed by Iran, including the Houthis, against widening the Middle East war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. But the attacks persisted. Houthi leaders claimed that U.S. pressure would not change their campaign in the Red Sea, through which about 30 percent of the world’s commercial shipping passes en route to the Suez Canal.” (iranprimer.usip.org 5/31/24
Houthi Attack Timeline In Support Of Gaza Beginning October 2023:
October 19: Houthis fired three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones from Yemen, reportedly targeting Israel. The USS Carney intercepted the missiles and drones.
October 31: Houthis fired an unspecified number of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. The Houthis vowed to “continue to carry out qualitative strikes with missiles and drones until the Israeli aggression stops.” Israel intercepted all of the aerial threats, which included one surface-to-surface missile.
November 8: Houthis shot down a U.S. drone. They claimed that the drone, an MQ-9 Reaper, was in Yemeni airspace.
November 14: Houthis launched a surface-to-surface missile towards Eilat, Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted the missile before it entered Israeli airspace.
November 15: The USS Thomas Hudner intercepted a drone in the Red Sea that had been launched from Yemen.
November 19: Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader, a British-owned, Japanese-operated cargo ship, in the Red Sea and took 25 crew members hostage. They claimed that the vessel was linked to Israel and a “legitimate target.” The British company that owns the ship had links to Abraham Ungar, an Israeli businessman, although the ship was leased to Nippon Yusen (NYK), a Japanese company. The Houthis vowed to continue targeting Israel-linked vessels until the Israeli campaign in Gaza ended.
November 22: The USS Thomas Hudner intercepted several drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. No injuries or damage were reported. The same day, the IDF claimed to have shot down a Houthi cruise missile over the Red Sea.
November 26: Houthis fired two ballistic missiles at the USS Mason while it was responding to a distress call from the Central Park, a commercial tanker operated by Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
November 29: The USS Carney intercepted an Iranian-produced drone launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
December 1: Israel struck an arms depot in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital. The Houthis denied the report by Saudi media.
December 3: Houthis fired ballistic missiles at three commercial ships in the Red Sea–the Unity Explorer, a British-owned and -operated bulk carrier; Number 9, a British-owned and -operated container ship; and Sophie II, a Japanese-owned and -operated bulk carrier. The USS Carney responded to their distress calls. It also shot down three drones; the target of the drones was unclear.
December 7: The U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned 13 individuals for providing funds to the Houthis.
December 11: Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile that hit the M/T Strinda, a Norwegian-flagged commercial tanker, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait of the Red Sea. The USS Mason responded to its mayday call.
December 13: Two missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen narrowly missed the Ardmore Encounter, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. The USS Mason shot down a drone during the incident.
December 14: Houthis launched a missile at the M/V Maersk Gibraltar, a Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel, after firing a ballistic missile north of the Bab al-Mandab.
December 15: Houthis struck two Liberian-flagged tankers in the Red Sea. A Houthi drone struck the M/V Al Jasra, which was set ablaze. Houthis also fired two ballistic missiles toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait. One hit the M/V Palatium III. The USS Mason responded to the second incident.
December 16: The USS Carney intercepted 14 drones that had been launched in a wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The British HMS Diamond also shot down a drone.
December 18: The United States established Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational initiative focused on security in the Red Sea. It included the United States, Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain. Houthis also claimed to have fired drones at the MSC Clara and Swan Atlantic, two commercial vessels.
December 19: The United States, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Australia, the Bahamas, Japan, Liberia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, and others jointly condemned Houthi maritime aggression. The 44 signatories represented the countries that flagged the most commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.
December 23: The USS Laboon intercepted four drones from Houthi-controlled Yemen. It also responded to distress calls from the M/V Blaamanen, a Norwegian-flagged tanker, and M/V Saibaba, an Indian-flagged tanker that had been targeted by Houthi drones.
December 26: Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the United VIII, a commercial tanker. They also launched a drone on southern Israel, which was intercepted over the Red Sea.
December 28: The USS Mason intercepted one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthis over the Red Sea. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned one individual and three entities for facilitating Iranian “financial assistance” to the Houthis.
December 31: Houthis deployed on four small boats attacked the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged container ship, and attempted to board the vessel. Helicopters from the USS Eisenhower responded and sank three of the four boats, killing their crews.
January 2024:
January 1: The Alborz, an Iranian warship, entered the Red Sea. Its mission was not specified.
January 2: Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the southern Red Sea. No commercial ships reported damage.
January 3: The United States and 13 partners issued a joint statement warning the Houthis to cease maritime aggression or face a military response. Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom joined the statement.
January 4: Houthis launched a drone that came within a few miles of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels before detonating in the Red Sea. The incident marked the first use by the Houthis of an unmanned surface vessel.
January 6: The USS Laboon intercepted a drone that had been launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
January 9: Houthis launched a large-scale attack, consisting of 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile. They were all shot down by U.S. and British forces.
January 11: U.S. Navy SEALs boarded and seized a sailboat transporting weapons from Iran to the Houthis. The operation, off the coast of Somalia, marked the first seizure of Iranian weapons since the Houthis began their Red Sea attacks in November 2023.
January 11-12: The United States and United Kingdom – with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia – launched more than 150 precision-guided munitions strikes on 60 targets, including radars, missile and drone launch sites, and weapons storage facilities in Yemen. The joint operation was dubbed “Operation Poseidon Archer.”
January 12: Houthis mistakenly fired a missile at a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying Russian oil in a missile attack. The USS Carney conducted a strike on a Houthi radar in Yemen. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned two companies–based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates–that have shipped Iranian commodities to the Houthis.
January 13: U.S. President Joe Biden said that Washington had delivered a back-channel message to Iran about Houthi maritime aggression.
January 15: Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a U.S.-owned and-operated bulk carrier flagged by the Marshall Islands.
January 16: U.S. forces destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen. Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into the southern Red Sea and struck the M/V Zografia, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier.
January 17: Houthis attacked the M/V Genco Picardy, a U.S.-owned and -operated bulk carrier flagged by the Marshall Islands. The drone crashed into the vessel southeast of Aden. The same day, U.S. forces struck 14 missile sites in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The United States formally named the Houthis a ‘Special Designated Global Terrorist Organization,’ which was scheduled to take effect on February 16, 2024.
January 18: U.S. forces struck two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were being prepared for launch in Yemen. Houthis firedtwo anti-ship missiles at the M/V Chem Ranger, a U.S.-owned and Greek-operated bulk carrier flagged by the Marshall Islands. In a televised speech, Houthi leader Abdul Malek al Houthi thanked God “for this great blessing and great honor — for us to be in a direct confrontation with Israel and America.” He claimed that pressure would not change the Houthi stance.
January 19: U.S. forces destroyed three Houthi missiles and launchers in Yemen as they were primed to attack commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea.
January 20: U.S. forces destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Gulf of Aden.
January 21: U.S. Central Command confirmed the death of two Navy SEALs who were swept into the Arabian Sea on January 11 as the SEALs seized and boarded a sailboat transporting Iranian missile parts and weapons to the Houthis.
January 22: Vice Admiral Brad Cooper claimed that Iran was “very directly involved” in the Houthis’ Red Sea attacks. The United States denied a Houthi claim that they had attacked the M/V Ocean Jazz, a U.S.-flagged bulk carrier.
January 23: U.S. forces struck two anti-ship missiles in Yemen as they were prepared for launch at targets in the Red Sea.
January 24: Iran reportedly informed Washington via back-channels that it is not seeking a war. Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the M/V Maersk Detroit, a U.S.-flagged, -owned and -operated container ship. The USS Gravely intercepted two of the missiles; the third landed in the Red Sea. Houthis ordered U.S. and British staff of Sanaa-based humanitarian organizations to leave Yemen within a month.
January 25: The U.S. Treasury, jointly with the United Kingdom, sanctioned four Houthi military officials. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan flew to Thailand to discuss the Houthi attacks with Chinese officials.
January 26: Houthis fired a ballistic missile toward the USS Carney, which shot down the missile. Houthis attacked the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged and Bermuda-owned tanker, with an anti-ship ballistic missile. The attack set the ship on fire, but the USS Carney–along with French and Indian vessels–extinguished the blaze.
January 27: The United States struck a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea. A British warship, the HMS Diamond, repelled a Houthi attack and shot down one drone over the Red Sea.
January 29: The Pentagon rejected a Houthi claim that its militants had attacked the USS Lewis B. Puller.
January 30: Houthis fired one anti-ship cruise missile toward the Red Sea. The USS Gravely intercepted the missile, and there was no damage.
January 31: The United States struck a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was being prepared for launch and was considered “an imminent threat” to U.S. aircraft operating in the region.
February 1: U.S. forces shot down one drone over the Gulf of Aden. Later, U.S. forces intercepted a sail drone headed toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Houthis fired one ballistic missile at the Koi, a Liberian-flagged and Bermuda-owned container ship.
February 2: Houthis shot a ballistic missile at southern Israel. The IDF intercepted the missile over the Red Sea. The same day, the U.S.S. Carney shot down one drone over the Gulf of Aden, U.S. forces struck four Houthi drones in Yemen, and the U.S.S. Laboon shot down seven drones over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported.
February 3: U.S. forces destroyed six cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled Yemen.
The United States and United Kingdom–with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand–struck 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations in Yemen. The strikes targeted storage facilities, missile launchers, air defense systems, and radars. “This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels,” said Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense.
February 4: U.S. forces conducted three air strikes in Houthi-controlled Yemen, destroying five anti-ship cruise missiles and one land attack cruise missile.
February 5: U.S. forces struck two Houthi unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in Yemen.
February 6: Houthis fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the Red Sea. Three missiles targeted the M/V Star Nasia, a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned and -operated bulk carrier. The USS Laboon intercepted one of the missiles. Another three missiles targeted the M/V Morning Tide, a Barbados-flagged, British-owned cargo ship.
February 8: U.S. forces struck four Houthi unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and seven Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen.
February 9: U.S. forces destroyed two Houthi unmanned surface vehicles (USV), four Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles, and one Houthi land attack cruise missile in Yemen.
February 10: U.S. forces struck two Houthi unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and thrree Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles north of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.
February 12: Houthis fired two missiles toward the M/V Star Iris, a cargo ship owned by a Greek company flagged in the Marshall Islands. The M/V Star Iris received minor damages but continued its voyage to Iran after the strike.
February 13: U.S. forces destroyed an anti-ship cruise missile in Houthi-controlled Yemen as it was prepared to launch. Later that day, Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden. U.S. forces did not intercept the missile because it was not projected to hit any ships.
February 14: U.S. forces destroyed seven anti-ship cruise missiles, three drones, and one explosive unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The weapons were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
February 15: Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile toward the M/V Lycavitos, a bulk carrier owned by a British company flagged in Barbados. The M/V Lycavitos received minor damage but continued its voyage after the strike. The same day, U.S. forces launched two strikes against three anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The missiles were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
February 16: Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea. Three missiles targeted the M/T Pollux, a commercial vehicle owned by a Danish company flagged in Panama. The missiles did not hit the M/T Pollux or any other ships.
U.S. forces struck one anti-ship cruise missile and one unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The missile and USV presented immediate threats to military and commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to U.S. Central Command.
February 17: U.S. forces launched five strikes and destroyed three anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and one unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in Houthi-controlled Yemen. This was the first observation of Houthi UUVs.
February 18: Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward M/V Rubymar, a bulk carrier owned by a British company and flagged in Belize. One of the missiles struck and damaged the M/V Rubymar, causing an 18 mile oil slick. U.S. forces responded to the M/V Rubymar’s distress call and transported its crew to a nearby port.
February 19: Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles against the M/V Sea Champion, a grain carrier owned by a U.S. company and flagged in Greece. The M/V Sea Champion received minor damages but continued its voyage to Aden, Yemen. The M/V Sea Champion delivered grain, its eleventh delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen since 2018.
The same day, U.S. forces destroyed a surface-to-air missile launcher in Houthi-controlled Yemen. Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile into the Red Sea, but it did not hit any ships.
Later, a Houthi attack drone struck the M/V Navis Fortuna, a bulk carrier owned by a U.S. company and flagged in the Marshall Islands. The M/V Navis Fortuna received minor damage but continued its voyage.
U.S. forces destroyed one attack drone in Western Yemen that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. U.S. and coalition forces destroyed ten attack drones in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
February 20: The USS Laboon shot down one Houthi anti-ship cruise missile headed in its direction.
February 21: U.S. forces launched four strikes into Houthi-controlled Yemen, which destroyed seven anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile launcher. These weapons were prepared to launch into the Red Sea. The same day, U.S. forces shot down an attack drone in self-defense.
February 22: U.S. forces intercepted six Houthi attack drones in the Red Sea. The drones were likely targeting U.S. warships and presented an imminent threat.
Later, Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Gulf of Aden. The missiles struck the M/V Islander, a cargo carrier owned by a British company and flagged in Palau. There was one minor injury, but the ship continued its voyage.
The same day, U.S. forces struck four Houthi drones and two anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The weapons were prepared to launch into the Red Sea.
February 23: U.S. forces shot down three Houthi attack drones in the Red Sea. The drones were near multiple commercial shipping vessels.
Later, U.S. forces destroyed seven Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen. The missiles were prepared to launch into the Red Sea.
February 24: The U.S.S. Mason shot down one Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden. The missile targeted the M/V Tom Thor, a chemical/oil tanker owned by a U.S. company and flagged in the United States.
On the same day, the United States and United Kingdom–with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand–struck 18 Houthi targets in 8 locations in Yemen. The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, drones, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries,” said Defense Secretary Austin.
February 25: U.S. forces shot down two attack drones over the southern Red Sea.
Houthis launched a second anti-ship ballistic missile targeting the M/V Tom Thor. The missile landed in the water.
February 26: U.S. forces destroyed three unmanned surface vehicles (USV), two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one attack drone. The USVs and missiles were prepared to launch into the Red Sea, and the attack drone had already launched into the Red Sea.
February 27: U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down five Houthi attack drones in the Red Sea.
February 29: U.S. forces intercepted a Houthi attack drone over the southern Red Sea. Also, U.S. forces launched two strikes against six mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The missiles were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea.
March 1: U.S. forces destroyed a surface-to-air missile in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The missile was prepared to launch toward the Red Sea. Also, Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile into the Red Sea. The missile landed in the water.
March 2: The M/V Rubymar sank in the Red Sea, nearly two weeks after it was struck by a Houthi missile on February 18. The ship was carrying 21,000 tons of fertilizer when it sank, which posed an environmental risk. The sunken ship also presented a subsurface impact risk to other ships traveling through the Red Sea.
March 4: Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Red Sea. The missile landed in the water.
Also, Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Gulf of Aden. The missiles targeted the M/V MSC SKY II, a container vessel owned by a Swiss company and flagged in Liberia. One missile struck the vessel, but it was able to continue on route.
That evening, U.S. forces destroyed two anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
March 5: U.S. forces intercepted one anti-ship ballistic missile and three suicide drones above the Red Sea. The weapons targeted the USS Carney.
Also, U.S. forces struck three anti-ship missiles and three unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in Houthi-controlled Yemen.
March 6: Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the M/V True Confidence, a bulk carrier owned by a Liberian company and flagged in Barbados. The missile struck the carrier, killing three people and injuring four more. Nearby U.S. and coalition warships responded to the incident, the first fatal strike on a commercial vessel.
Also, U.S. forces struck against two drones in Houthi-controlled Yemen. U.S. forces assessed that the weapons posed an imminent threat to commercial ships and U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.
March 7: U.S. forces struck four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi drone in Yemen. Also, U.S. forces downed three drones launched toward the Gulf of Aden.
March 8: U.S. forces struck two truck-mounted anti-ship missiles. Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Propel Fortune, a Singapore-flagged, owned, and operated bulk carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden.
March 9: U.S., British and French forces downed at least 28 Houthi suicide drones launched toward the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during a four-hour period late. The drones posed “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels, U.S. Navy, and coalition ships in the region,” according to Central Command. The attack was reportedly the largest swarm of drones launched since October 2023.
March 11: Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Pinocchio, a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel transiting the Red Sea.
Also, U.S. forces destroyed 18 anti-ship missiles and an unmanned underwater vessel in six strikes in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The weapons posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels, according to U.S. Central Command.
March 12: Houthis fired one close-range ballistic missile at the USS Laboon. Also, U.S. forces and a coalition ship destroyed two unmanned aerial systems launched from Houthi-controlled territory. The weapons posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels.
March 13: Houthis fired one anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden. Also, U.S. forces destroyed four drones and one surface-to-air missile in Houthi-controlled territory. The weapons presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels.
March 14: Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Gulf of Aden and two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea. Also, U.S. forces destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two drones in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The strikes were launched to “protect freedom of navigation,” according to U.S. Central Command.
March 15: Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea.
March 16: Houthis launched two drones into the Red Sea. U.S. forces intercepted and destroyed one drone, and the other drone reportedly impacted in the water. Also, U.S. forces destroyed five unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and one drone in Houthi-controlled Yemen.
March 18: U.S. forces destroyed seven anti-ship missiles, three drones, and three weapons storage containers in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The weapons posed an “imminent threat” to commercial vessels and U.S. Navy ships, according to U.S. Central Command.
Also, Houthis reportedly launched a cruise missile that landed near the southern Israeli city of Eilat. The group had previously fired projectiles at Israel, but Israeli defenses had intercepted all of them.
March 20: A coalition aircraft destroyed one drone, and U.S. forces destroyed one unmanned surface vessel, both launched by Houthis.
March 21: A U.S.-led coalition aircraft destroyed one unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled territory. Also, coalition forces destroyed two anti-ship ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the Red Sea.
March 22: U.S. forces destroyed four drones in Houthi-controlled territory in self-defense. Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the Red Sea. Also, U.S. forces struck three Houthi underground storage facilities used to threaten ships.
March 23: Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the M/V Huan Pu, a Chinese-owned and operated tanker. A fifth missile caused minimal damage.
U.S. forces, including the USS Carney, engaged six Houthi drones over the southern Red Sea. Five crashed into the water, and one flew toward Houthi-controlled Yemen. The drones posed an imminent threat to U.S., coalition and commercial ships in the area, according to U.S. Central Command.
March 27: U.S. forces downed four long-range drones launched by the Houthis at a U.S. warship in the Red Sea.
March 28: U.S. forces destroyed four long-range drones launched by the Houthis at a coalition vessel and a U.S. warship in the Red Sea.
March 30: U.S. forces destroyed one unmanned aerial system over the Red Sea and another that was prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled territory.
April 1: U.S. forces destroyed a Houthi unmanned surface vessel in self-defense.
April 3: The USS Gravely and other U.S. forces destroyed an inbound anti-ship ballistic missile and two unmanned aerial systems launched by the Houthis. They had targeted the USS Gravely, a destroyer. Also, U.S. forces destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory.
April 4: U.S. forces destroyed one anti-ship missile in Houthi-controlled territory that posed a threat to coalition forces and merchant vessels.
April 6: U.S. forces destroyed one mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory. Also, U.S. forces downed a drone over the Red Sea and destroyed one inbound anti-ship missile.
April 8: U.S. forces destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled territory, and one unmanned aerial system launched over the Red Sea. Separately, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile toward the M/V Hope Island, a British-owned cargo ship escorted by a coalition warship in the Gulf of Aden.
April 9: The USS Mason and other U.S. forces destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile launched over the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis appeared to be targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged and U.S.-owned vessel.
April 10: U.S. forces downed two drones launched over the Gulf of Aden and a third drone launched over the Red Sea by the Houthis. Separately, U.S. forces destroyed eight drones in Houthi-controlled territory in self-defense.
April 11: U.S. forces destroyed one anti-ship ballistic missile launched over the Red Sea from Houthi-controlled territory.
April 13: Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile toward the Gulf of Aden.
April 14: U.S. forces destroyed four drones in Houthi-controlled territory that posed a threat to vessels in the region.
April 16: U.S. forces successfully engaged two drones in Houthi-controlled territory that posed an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region.
April 24: A British vessel intercepted one anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden launched from Houthi territory. The target appeared to be the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated vessel.
Separately, U.S. forces downed four drones over Houthi territory.
April 25: Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden.
Separately, U.S. forces destroyed one unmanned surface vessel and one drone in Houthi-controlled territory that posed threats to ships in the area.
April 26: Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea near MV MAISHA, an Antiqua/Barbados flagged, Liberia operated vessel and MV Andromeda Star, a British owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel. The MV Andromeda star took minor damage but was able to continue its voyage.
Separately, a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone reportedly crashed in Yemen. The Houthis claimed to have shot it down over Saada governorate.
April 28: U.S. forces downed five drones over the Red Sea.
April 29: U.S. forces destroyed a drone launched towards the USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea.
Separately, Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles and launched three drones into the Red Sea towards MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel.
April 30: Houthis claimed an attack on the MSC Orion, a container ship transiting the Indian Ocean that appeared to be owned by Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
May 2: U.S. forces destroyed three uncrewed aerial systems in Houthi-controlled territory. The weapons presented an imminent threat to vessels in the region, according to U.S. Central Command.
May 6: U.S. forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system launched by Houthis over the Red Sea.
Separately, Houthis launched three uncrewed aerial systems over the Gulf of Aden. U.S. forces brought down one, a coalition ship engaged another, and the third crashed in the water.
May 7: Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden.
May 10: A coalition aircraft intercepted an uncrewed aerial system launched by the Houthis over the Gulf of Aden.
May 11: U.S forces destroyed three uncrewed aerial systems launched by the Houthis over the Red Sea.
May 12: U.S. forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system launched by the Houthis over the Gulf of Aden.
May 13: U.S. forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system in Houthi-controlled territory.
Separately, the USS Mason destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile over the Red Sea. U.S. forces also destroyed one uncrewed aerial system over the Red Sea.
May 14: U.S. forces destroyed four uncrewed aerial systems in Houthi-controlled territory.
May 18: Houthis struck the M/T Wind, a Panamanian-flagged, Greek owned and operated oil tanker, with one anti-ship ballistic missile. The ship had been docked in Russia and was heading to China. The damaged vessel was able to continue its journey without assistance.
Separately, Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden.
May 21: Houthis claimed to have downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone using a domestically produced surface-to-air missile. Footage of wreckage had circulated online on May 17.
May 22: U.S. forces successfully engaged four uncrewed aerial systems in Houthi-controlled territory.
May 23: U.S. forces successfully engaged one land attack cruise missile in Houthi-controlled territory.
May 25: Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the Red Sea.
May 26: U.S. forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system over the Red Sea that was launched from Houthi territory.
May 27: U.S. forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system over the Red Sea that was launched from Houthi territory.
May 28: U.S. forces destroyed five uncrewed aerial systems launched over the Red Sea from Houthi territory. Separately, Houthis launched five anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea. Three hit the M/V Laax, a Marshall Island flagged, Greek-owned and operated bulk carrier, but it was able to continue its voyage.
Also, U.S. forces destroyed two missile launchers in Houthi-controlled territory. Separately, Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea.
May 29: U.S. forces destroyed two uncrewed aerial systems over the Red Sea.
The Houthis claimed to have downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone using a surface-to-air missile. But a U.S. defense official denied the loss of any aircraft.
May 30: U.S. forces destroyed eight drones in Houthi-controlled territory and over the Red Sea.
Separately, U.S. and British forces struck 13 Houthi targets – including underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, and a ship – in self-defense. Some of the targets were located in the Red Sea port of Hodeida, near the capital, Sanaa, and Taiz, a city in southwestern Yemen. The Houthis claimed that 16 people were killed and 35 wounded. (iranprimer.usip.org 5/31/24)
June 2024:
The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) will launch an even larger and more potent attack on the United States Carrier Strike Group 2's flagship, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, whenever possible, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced on Thursday. (english.almayadeen.net 6/6/24)
“Yemen’s Houthis last month carried out the largest number of attacks on commercial ships so far in 2024, according to data collected by UK Maritime Trade Operations.
June saw 16 confirmed attacks on ships, proof that the group remains a threat to global trade after months of American and British efforts to thwart it.
Only December last year saw more attacks, at a time when more vessels were going through the Bab al-Mandab strait.
On 12 June, following months of reduced activity, the group was able to carry out the second confirmed sinking of a vessel as well as the first successful attack with a seaborne drone. The Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier was struck by missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat.” (middleeasteye.net 7/3/24)
“The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier was fleeing towards the north of the Red Sea and far away from it when it was targeted, said Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement.
During a televised speech, the Ansar Allah leader noted that before the USS Eisenhower made its final withdrawal, it was targeted by the Yemeni Resistance, which forced it to drastically curve and flee to the Suez Canal.
Sayyed al-Houthi vowed that any new aircraft carrier deployed in the Red Sea would be a target for the Yemeni Armed Forces, adding that ‘If the new aircraft carrier is willing to venture, get involved and tangled up in the same issue the Eisenhower found itself in, then it should come, and it would be its loss.’” (english.almayadeen.net 6/27/24)
July 2024:
The Armed Forces of Yemen’s Sanaa government, aligned with the Ansarallah resistance movement, announced on 14 July an operation against an Israeli ship in the Gulf of Aden and an attack targeting Israel’s southern port city of Eilat, known in Arabic as Umm al-Rashrash.
Sanaa’s forces said the operations were a ‘response to the Al-Mawasi massacre in Khan Yunis, which was committed by the Israeli enemy [on Saturday].’ At least 90 Palestinian civilians were killed in the massacre in southern Gaza. (thecradle.co 7/14/24)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Red Sea on Monday, as a new U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region to provide security for the key international trade route that has been under assault since the Israel-Hamas war erupted nine months ago. (apnews.com 7/15/24)
“Oil tanker damaged as armed guards blow up remote-controlled boat used in Houthi attack. Second attack of the day targeted crude carrier in the southern Red Sea. Houthi forces used unmanned craft to attack a second vessel in the Red Sea on Monday.
Maritime security firm Diaplous reported that a small fishing boat that was likely remote-controlled came dangerously close to a Panama-flagged crude oil carrier sailing southbound, 97 nautical miles (180 kilometres) northwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah.” (tradewindsnews.com 7/15/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) conducted three operations targeting crude oil tankers in the Red Sea and a joint operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeting another crude oil tanker (Olivia) in the Mediterranean, the spokesperson for the YAF, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced.
The first operation saw multiple unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), suicide drones, and ballistic missiles launched at the BENTLEY I oil products tanker in the Red Sea. The operation was jointly conducted by the YAF's Navy, Rocket Force, and Unmanned Air Force on Monday. Saree also said that the YAF struck the CHIOS LION oil tanker with a USV in the Red Sea.“ (english.almayadeen.net 7/15/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) published footage of its attack on the CHIOS LION crude oil tanker in the Red Sea. The YAF's Navy had directed an explosive-laden unmanned surface vehicle (USV) toward the vessel after its operating company violated the terms of the Yemeni embargo on the Israeli occupation.
Maritime security-concerned UKMTO said that the CHIOS LION was approached by a USV from its port side. The organization said that the USV caused damage and white smoke to erupt from the vessel. However, it made no further updates.” (english.almayadeen.net 7/16/24)
“On the Yemeni support front, Sayyed al-Houthi touched on the high effectiveness of the Yemeni Armed Forces' operations in the Red and Arabian seas, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
He confirmed that the number of targeted ships linked to the United States, ‘Israel’, and Britain reached 170, adding that the YAF operations were carried out with 25 ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, and naval vessels.
In light of these operations, the Ansar Allah leader highlighted a significant reduction in the navigation of ships associated with the United States and Britain, adding, ‘Once they pass, they are targeted.’
Sayyed al-Houthi announced Sanaa's intention to enhance operations in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, asserting that these areas are now under the YAF's control. He also vowed escalation and intensification of YAF actions.
He reiterated that the American aggression, which targeted Yemen with 13 airstrikes this week, does not affect the YAF's operations, nor does it limit them, explaining that the United States is pushing to embroil its proxies due to the pressure it faces as a result of the Yemeni operations.” (english.almayadeen.net 7/18/24)
“The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published a forensic report on the impact of AnsarAllah’s ‘attacks on international trade.’
It found that container shipping through the Red Sea, which typically accounts for approximately 10-15% of international maritime trade, had declined by approximately 90% since Operation Prosperity Guardian began. Due to Ansar Allah’s inexorable onslaught against corporations and countries supporting the Gaza genocide, many ships were forced to take alternative routes around Africa, adding approximately 11,000 extra nautical miles, up to two weeks further transit time, and approximately $1 million in additional fuel costs for each voyage.” (english.almayadeen.net 7/19/24)
“Hebrew media has lamented the Yemeni drone attack on Tel Aviv as a significant failure that marks a new phase in the war. In the title of a 19 July report, Hebrew newspaper Maariv asks, ‘Is the UAV in Tel Aviv just the opening shot?’ adding that the Yemeni Armed Forces and Ansarallah resistance movement have ‘revealed a game-breaking weapon.’
‘Of course, this is a failure of Israel’s air defense and warning system. This is a UAV of the order of magnitude that the State of Israel is supposed to identify and intercept,’ retired Israeli general Amir Avivi told Maariv in another report on 19 July.” (thecradle.co 7/19/24)
“Spokesman of Yemen's Ansarallah Mohammed Abdul Salam: ‘The brutal Israeli aggression on Yemen by targeting civilian facilities, oil tanks, and the power station in Hodeidah aims to double the suffering of the people and pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza. This is a dream that, Allah willing, will never come true. We affirm that this brutal aggression will only increase the determination, steadfastness, and escalating continuation of the Yemeni people and their brave armed forces in supporting Gaza. Thanks to Allah, the Yemeni people are capable of facing all challenges with Allah's help and in the pursuit of justice for Palestine and the people of Gaza, which represents the most just cause on earth.” (thecradle.co 7/20/24)
“The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Erik Kurilla, has urged authorities in Washington to take a more forceful approach against Yemen, saying current efforts to deter the nation’s pro-Palestine operations are ‘failing.’
In a private letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Kurilla calls for a ‘stepped-up whole of government effort against the Houthis, employing economic, diplomatic, and potentially military pressure to discourage attacks on ships in the Red Sea,’ according to officials who spoke with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
‘Many people found the tone of the memo to be a bit shocking,’ a defense official told the US daily, describing Kurilla’s words as implying that ‘US service members will die if we continue going this way.’” (english.almayadeen.net 7/20/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) carried out two operations, one targeting an Israeli-occupied city and the other targeting a US vessel on the Red Sea. In detail, the YAF carried out a top-tier military operation against significant targets in Umm al-Rashrash [Eilat] with a number of ballistic missiles, achieving its declared goals successfully, the Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Sunday. Saree detailed that the YAF also targeted the US ship "Pumba" in the Red Sea with a number of ballistic missiles and drones, impacting it directly.” (english.almayadeen.net 7/21/24)
“On Wednesday night, President Biden falsely claimed in an address to the nation that the US was not at war. ‘I’m the first president in this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world,’ the president said.
About a half hour before Biden delivered his address, US Central Command announced that it launched new strikes targeting the Houthis in Yemen. Since January, the US has carried out hundreds of strikes in Yemen as part of a new war that has not been authorized by Congress.” (Dave DeCamp antiwar.com 7/25/24)
“The UAE has, since 7 October, stepped up work on joint Emirati-Israeli military and intelligence infrastructure on the Socotra Archipelago off the coast of Yemen, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbarreported on 29 July.
The UAE has sought to establish control over the strategic archipelago, and has, over the past few years, begun constructing – in coordination with Tel Aviv – military and intelligence sites on the islands of the Socotra Archipelago, including the Island of Socotra itself.
According to the Al-Akhbar report, other Gulf Arab countries are involved in Emirati-Israeli plans for the archipelago, which comes as part of ‘an alliance being established … under an American umbrella.’ (thecradle.co 7/29/24)
“The Ansar Allah chief emphasized that ‘Israel’ will not achieve any of its goals ‘in breaking the Resistance or extinguishing the spirit and iron will of the ... brothers in Palestine and all support fronts.’
‘The criminal enemy's involvement in targeting the martyr [Haniyeh] has elevated the battle to a wider scope and greater dimensions, the consequences of which will be dire for the enemy, God willing,’ he said, assuring that ‘we will spare no effort, with God's permission and in cooperation with our brothers in the Resistance Axis in avenging the martyr and all the martyrs and the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people.’
Regarding the martyrdom of Sayyed Fouad Shokor, Sayyed Al-Houthi called it a clear aggression and dangerous escalation, considering it directly linked to Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US coinciding with US movements in the region.
He stressed that the US is a 'partner and deceiver’ who preaches the prevention of expanded war while providing support and participating in ‘Israel’s’ effort to expand it, stressing that there is ‘no objection or resistance from the West towards what the Israeli enemy is doing,’ and that ‘after everything the Israelis do, the West takes the initiative to prevent a reaction and legitimate defense of oneself, honor, rights, and homelands.’” (english.almayadeen.net 8/1/24)
“Russia was preparing to deliver missiles and other military equipment to the Houthi rebels in Yemen late last month but pulled back at the last minute amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to stop it, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
The Saudis, who were locked in a brutal war with the Houthis for years before the US helped to negotiate a fragile truce in 2022, warned Russia against arming one of their biggest adversaries upon learning of the plans, the sources said.” (can.com 8/2/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces' air defense forces managed to shoot down an American MQ-9 drone while it was conducting hostile activities in the skies over Saada province, announced YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Sunday.
In a televised statement, Saree confirmed that the drone was downed using a homegrown surface-to-air missile, adding that this is the seventh drone of its kind to be shot down since the start of the YAF's military operations in support of Gaza.
Additionally, the spokesperson said the YAF's naval and missile units carried out a joint military operation targeting the ship Groton in the Gulf of Aden with several ballistic missiles, and the strike was precise.
He indicated that the ship was targeted after its owning company violated the entry ban into the ports of occupied Palestine imposed by the YAF, adding that the attack comes as part of the fourth phase of escalation concerning the maritime operations area.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/4/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that they had conducted three significant military operations in support of the Palestinian people's struggle and resistance and response to the US-UK-Israeli aggression against Yemen.
In a statement, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, disclosed that the missile, air, and naval forces executed a coordinated operation targeting the Contship Ono ship in the Red Sea. The operation involved several ballistic missiles and drones, resulting in a precise hit.
The second operation was a target on the US destroyer Cole in the Gulf of Aden, using multiple drones to achieve its objective. In the third operation, the naval forces targeted the US destroyer Laboon with several ballistic missiles, according to Saree.
According to him, ‘the targeting of the two US destroyers as they passed through the Yemeni Armed Forces' operational area toward the northern Red Sea was part of a broader strategy to challenge American military support for the Israeli occupation.’
Saree added, ‘One outcome of the operations was the inability of the two destroyers to fully intercept the missiles and drones, resulting in several of the drones and missiles successfully achieving their targets.’
He also underscored that the Yemeni Armed Forces view all US military movements in the naval operations area that support the Israeli occupation as hostile, emphasizing that they ‘will not hesitate to target these movements with all available resources.’” (english.almayadeen.net 8/7/24)
“The United States naval and aerial campaign in the Red Sea has become the most sustained military campaign by American forces since coalition forces launched attacks on ISIS in Iraq and Syria between 2016-2019, Politico reported.
US forces have launched nearly 800 missiles and seven aerial onslaughts on Yemen since November 2023, deploying a Carrier Strike Group and naval pieces to protect Israeli interests in the region.
The newspaper said that the emerging battle in the Red Sea has become the most expansive and enduring US military operation currently underway, which risks "chewing through munition" that the Pentagon would rather have available for a potential war with China in the Pacific.
Carrier Strike Group 12 extended its stay twice during the nine-month period in the Red Sea, where US forces fired over 135 Tomahawk land attack missiles, which cost between $2 million to $4 million per missile, resulting in a total expenditure ranging from at least $270 million to over $540 million.
US standard missiles used to destroy inexpensive attack drones also cost the US millions of dollars to procure, as Politico reports that 155 standard missiles of various types have been used in the same period. F-18 aircraft deployed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower fired 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface weapons.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/8/24)
“Danish shipping company AP Moller–Maersk reported a 45 percent drop in profit for the second quarter of 2024 amid ongoing disruptions in global supply chains due to Yemen’s blockade of the Red Sea, The Economic Times reported on 9 August.
Since November, Yemeni naval forces have launched attacks in the Red Sea on commercial ships linked to Israeli businesspersons or transporting goods to Israel. The US and UK have deployed naval ships to the region in an effort to protect them. Yemen is seeking to blockade Israel in response to its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.” (thecradle.co 8/9/24)
The US Navy's mission to repel the operations of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) will not suffice on its own to prevent the Yemeni attacks on merchant vessels, the admiral leading operations in the Middle East acknowledged this week, the Business Insider news website reported.
Shortly after the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the YAF imposed an entry ban into the Israeli-occupied ports of Palestine and has been targeting ships that violate the decision.
They vowed that these operations will not cease until the aggression is halted and the siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted.
“Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, emphasized that addressing the Yemeni threat requires more than just military might. Instead, he suggested that Washington and its allies must explore alternative methods to exert pressure on the YAF.
‘The solution is not going to come at the end of a weapon system,’ Wikoff suggested Wednesday during an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ‘It's going to be the international community,’ he added.
US officials have claimed that for over eight months, their forces have been actively defending key shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from persistent Yemeni missile and drone attacks, but to no avail, as the Yemeni Armed Forces have continued their operations tirelessly.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/9/24)
“Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Yemen reported that today, Monday, the US-UK aggression aircraft conducted an airstrike on Kamaran Island, which is part of the Hodeidah Governorate and overlooks the Red Sea.
This aggression comes amid desperate attempts to deter Sanaa from supporting the Palestinian people. Despite the repeated attacks on Yemeni territory, which have resulted in several martyrs since Yemen joined the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, the Yemeni armed forces continue to target Israeli positions in the occupied Palestinian territories.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/12/24)
“Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on 19 August that the Israeli attack on Yemen’s Hodeidah port last month could be considered a war crime.
‘The Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port on the evening of July 20, 2024, were an apparently unlawful indiscriminate or disproportionate attack on civilians that could have a long-term impact on millions of Yemenis who rely on the port for food and humanitarian aid,’ HRW said.
‘The Israeli airstrikes, which killed at least six civilians and reportedly injured at least 80 others, hit more than two dozen oil storage tanks and two shipping cranes in Hodeidah port in northwest Yemen, as well as a power plant in Hodeidah’s Salif district,’ it added. The strikes ‘appeared to cause disproportionate harm to civilians and civilian objects. Serious violations of the laws of war committed willfully, that is deliberately or recklessly, are war crimes.’” (thecradle.co 8/20/24)
“A Yemeni source confirmed to Al Mayadeen today that the number of US, UK, and ‘Israel’-bound ships has decreased dramatically following the Israeli aggression on Hodeidah. The source noted there was a degree of ‘panic and caution’ among these ships and their companies.
The source stated that the continued flow of US naval vessels to the region ‘only strengthens Yemen's resolve, which cannot be reversed until the aggression on Gaza is halted.’ The Yemeni Armed Forces' operations in the declared operational area are ‘ongoing, escalating, and precise,’ the source said.”
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) carried out two military operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to the injustice faced by the Palestinian people and their Resistance fighters, as well as the American and British aggression against Yemen, announced YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Thursday.
In a televised statement, Saree confirmed that the first operation targeted the oil vessel SOUNION, which is owned by a company that deals with the Israeli occupation entity. He pointed out that the vessel was struck with accuracy while navigating in the Red Sea and is now at risk of sinking.
As for the second operation, the YAF spokesperson indicated that it targeted the Sw North Wind I vessel, also belonging to a company engaged with the Israeli occupation. The Brigadier General noted that the ship was hit with precision while sailing in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Saree mentioned that the two vessels violated the ban imposed by the YAF on entering the ports of occupied Palestine.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/22/24)
“Sanaa's Defense Minister Major General Mohammed Nasser Al-Atifi confirmed the readiness of the Yemeni armed forces (YAF), in all their formations, to launch painful strikes ‘deep inside the Zionist entity.’
He vowed that the response of the Aixs of resistance to the crimes of the Israeli occupation is ‘coming and inevitable,’ reiterating a ‘strategic and decisive response,’ and concluding by noting that US military buildup in the region in defense of ‘Israel means nothing,’ stressing it will face a ‘disastrous failure.’” (english.almayadeen.net 8/25/24)
“Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance movement has allowed tug boats and rescue ships to reach the Greek-owned Sounion oil tanker in the Red Sea, which was struck in a Yemeni naval operation last week.
The tanker remained drifting and in flames for several days after the attack, launched by the armed forces of Yemen’s Sanaa government – which is merged with Ansarallah.
‘After several international parties contacted us, especially the European ones, they were allowed to tow the burning oil tanker, Sounion,’ said Ansarallah spokesman and head of the Sanaa government’s UN delegation, Mohammad Abdul Salam.
‘We confirm that the burning of the aforementioned oil tanker is an example of Yemen's seriousness in targeting any ship that violates the Yemeni ban decision to prevent any ship from crossing to the ports of occupied Palestine with the aim of exerting pressure on the Zionist enemy entity to stop its aggression on Gaza,’ Abdul Salam went on to say.” (thecradle.co 8/29/24)
“According to authors Jonathan Hoffman and Benjamin Giltner (Responsible Statecraft), the US military conquest in the Red Sea is not only failing but also exposing US military personnel in the region to extreme danger to protect foreign vessels, as well as risking escalation and the destabilization of not only Yemen but the entire region.
Hoffman and Giltner expand on the reasons for the US failure in the Red Sea and explain that they stem primarily from Washington's willful ignorance and refusal to acknowledge the main motive behind Ansar Allah's operations [that being the Israeli genocide in Gaza], clearing all hopes it has for triumphing in the region.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/30/24)
“The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that a military operation was carried out targeting the GROTON ship in the Gulf of Aden in response to the vessel's violation of the ban on entering ports in occupied Palestine.
In a statement, Saree detailed that the operation involved the Yemeni naval forces, the drone air force, and the missile force. He confirmed that the ship was hit accurately and directly. Saree also noted that this was the second attack on the GROTON vessel, with the first occurring on August 3.” (english.almayadeen.net 8/31/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for a precision military operation targeting the Panama-flagged vessel BLUE LAGOON I in the Red Sea. According to a statement by spokesperson Brigadier-General Yahya Saree, the ship was struck with several missiles and drones, resulting in a direct hit.
Brigadier-General Saree stated that the operation was a joint effort involving Yemen's missile forces, naval forces, and drone units. The attack was in response to the ship's owner violating a ban on entering ports in occupied Palestine.” (english.almayadeen.net 9/2/24)
“𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: On the morning of Sep. 2, the Iranian-backed Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers, the Panama flagged/owned, Greek operated MV BLUE LAGOON I and the Saudi flagged, owned, and operated MV AMJAD, with two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack uncrewed aerial system, hitting both vessels. Both vessels are laden with crude oil. The MV AMJAD is carrying approximately two million barrels of oil, almost twice the amount onboard the Greek-owned MV DELTA SOUNION, which the Houthis attacked on Aug. 21. Currently, salvage efforts are underway in the Southern Red Sea for the disabled MV DELTA SOUNION, which is still on fire and threatens the possibility of a major environmental disaster.” (@CENTCOM 9/2/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) are leading a successful military naval campaign in support of the Palestinian people that has ‘arguably beaten’ the United States, a Bloomberg report found. Yemen's Ansar Allah advanced the ‘biggest surprise’ and the ‘ominous’ acts to the US-led global order, an expert on foreign affairs Hal Brands wrote for Bloomberg.
Yemenis have presented the ‘gravest challenge’ to the US self-proclaimed guardianship over global trade routes in recent decades and have ‘arguably beaten a weary superpower along the way,’ Brands explained.” (english.almaydeen.net 9/7/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on 10 September that it had successfully taken down an US MQ-9 drone, marking the second attack on such an aircraft within 72 hours and the ninth since the start of its operations in support of Gaza in 2023.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, announced that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone while it was engaged in hostile operations in the Saada province's airspace.” (thecradle.co 9/11/24)
“Yemen's military campaign in support of the Palestinian people is ongoing with the full commitment of the Yemeni Armed Forces to it, despite the fact that the US-led coalition has launched more than 700 strikes on the country, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement Sayyed Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said on Saturday.
He stressed that the US-led aggression has ‘not succeeded in curbing military operations at sea or deterring or stopping them.’” (english.almayadeen.net 9/14/24)
“Houthi rebels fired a long-range surface-to-surface missile into central Israel on Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces said. The attack, which Houthis said was launched from over 1200 miles away, is a mark of escalation from the Yemen-based militia group.
Yahya Saree, a Houthis spokesperson, said the group launched ‘a new hypersonic missile’ towards a target in Jaffa, near Tel Aviv. The IDF's missile defense system didn't intercept the missile before it entered Israel's airspace and said the missile ‘exploded’ in the air, scattering debris in open areas.” (axios.com 9/15/24)
“The Israeli occupation forces are circulating reports of a ballistic missile targeting Tel Aviv all the way from Yemen, Israeli media revealed, after alarm sirens blasted across central 'Israel' during the early hours of Friday.
Israeli media stated that more than 17 Israeli settlers were injured amid Yemen's missile attack, as sirens blared across Tel Aviv, multiple southern settlements, and Gush Dan, Sharon, and the coastal plain to Tel Aviv's north. In this context, Israeli media platforms have stated that ‘in Yemen, they launched a missile that cannot be detected by radars outside Israel, allowing them to strike Tel Aviv whenever they wish,’ stressing that this is a troubling sign.” (english.almaydeen.net 9/27/24)
“Yemen fired its second ballistic missile at Tel Aviv early on 27 September, causing mass panic among settlers and forcing at least two million into shelters. Missile sirens began ringing across Tel Aviv at around 12:45 AM. Video footage showed settlers fleeing in panic or lying flat on the ground and the sirens rang overhead.” (thecradle.co 9/27/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) targeted and hit three United States Navy destroyers in the Red Sea, which were sailing toward occupied Palestine to support the Israeli regime, the spokesperson for the YAF, Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Friday. Saree read out the statement during a million-man march in the al-Sabeen Square in the capital Sanaa, announcing the second set of top-tier operations conducted by the YAF.” (english.almaydeen.net 9/27/24)
“US Navy warships shot down a barrage of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on Friday in what a Pentagon spokesperson described as a ‘complex attack.’ Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon spokesperson, said no US warships were damaged or struck by the Houthi munitions, and there were no injuries to American personnel.
‘We did see a complex attack launched from the Houthis that ranged from cruise missiles and [drones],’ Singh told reporters at a briefing. ‘My understanding is that those were either engaged and shot down or failed.’
The Houthis said earlier that they targeted three Navy warships with nearly two dozen ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The Iran-backed rebels claimed to score direct hits on the vessels, although US officials pushed back on this and there's no credible evidence to support it.” (businessinsider.com 9/27/24)
“The missile force of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) targeted on Saturday the Israeli Ben Gurion airport in occupied Yafa (Tel Aviv) in parallel with the arrival of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the location, announced YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree.
In a statement, Saree mentioned that the operation comes in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and in response to the Israeli crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
The YAF spokesperson confirmed that the latest operation was carried out using a ballistic missile of the Palestine 2 type, just a day after the YAF launched an attack against a military target also in Tel Aviv using the same missile and a vital location in occupied Askalan using the locally-manufactured Yafa drone.” (english.almayadeen.net 9/28/24)
“Israeli airstrikes struck oil tanks at Ras Isa Port in Yemen, with additional strikes on Hodeidah Port on the Red Sea, west of Yemen, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported on Sunday.
Local sources told Al Mayadeen that more than 10 airstrikes targeted Hodeidah port, causing explosions that shook the city. Our correspondent explained that the Israeli aggression in western Yemen targeted the al-Hali power generation station in the coastal city of Hodeidah. Israeli strikes also targeted the Hodeidah International Airport, according to local sources.” (english.almayadeen.net 9/29/24)
“Yemen's air defenses shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone as it was carrying out hostilities in the airspace of the northern governorate of Saada, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Monday. ‘This aircraft is the 11th of this type that our air defenses succeded in downing during this battle,’ Saree said.” (english.almayadeen.com 9/30/24)
“In support of the Lebanese and Palestinian people and their Resistance, and in response to the US-UK aggression against Yemen, the naval, missile, and UAV forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out three military operations, announced spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Tuesday.
The first operation targeted the Cordelia Moon British oil tanker in the Red Sea using eight ballistic and cruise missiles, a drone, and an uncrewed surface boat, resulting in severe damages.
The second and third operations targeted the Marathopolis tanker in the Indian Ocean for violating the maritime ban imposed by the YAF on ships sailing in the designated operations zone toward the occupied ports of Palestine.” (english.almayadeen.com 10/1/24)
“Yemen’s armed forces hit military posts deep inside Israel with three winged ‘Quds 5’ cruise missiles, military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on 2 October. ‘The missiles successfully reached their targets, while the enemy remains silent about the results of the operation,’ Saree stated.
‘We will not hesitate in broadening our military operations against the Israeli enemy and who is behind it until the aggression against Gaza and Lebanon ends,’ Saree added.” (thecradle.co 10/2/24)
“At least five one-way attack drones reached occupied Yafa (Tel Aviv), in occupied Palestine, overnight on Thursday. Israeli media outlets reported that five drones were launched from Yemen, some 2,000 km away, as the first drone arrived in the area at around 2:00 am (local time).
At least three loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv, Herzilya, and Petah Tikva, as reported by Israeli media outlets. Later another drone reached the Bat Yam city settlement in southern Tel Aviv.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/3/24)
“The spokesman for the Ansarallah-led Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced on 3 October a ‘successful’ military operation that struck a ‘vital target’ in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv with a swarm of Yaffa drones.
‘The UAV force of Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting a vital target in the [Tel Aviv] area in occupied Palestine with several Yaffa drones. The operation successfully achieved its objectives, as the drones reached their targets without the enemy being able to [shoot them down],’ Saree said in a statement shared on social media.” (thecradle.co 10/3/24)
“The US-British forces of aggression launched 4 raids on Hodeidah Governorate in northern Yemen, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported earlier on Thursday,
In a speech on Thursday, in which he addressed the developments of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as regional and international updates, Sayyed al-Houthi emphasized that the United States and "Israel" sought to escalate their aggression against the Yemeni people, launching 39 airstrikes on Yemen this week alone. The Israeli aggression on Hodeidah has failed and will fail to force the YAF to halt its operations in support of Gaza and Lebanon, he made it clear.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/4/24)
“Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's port city of Hodeidah have killed and injured up to 155 people since July, causing more than $20 million in damage to a key harbor. The majority of the port's fuel storage capacity has been destroyed, leaving four million people without electricity. Meanwhile, human rights groups have warned that the ‘disproportionate’ operations may constitute war crimes.
‘Israel’ has bombarded Yemen twice this year, most recently on Sunday, using F-35 fighter fighters. UK firms produce ‘significantly’ more than 15% of every F-35 fighter jet, and Keir Starmer's administration continues to allow UK manufacturers to export F-35 components to ‘Israel’. (english.almayadeen.net 10/4/24)
“The US-British aggression launched at least 14 airstrikes on Friday evening, targeting the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as well as the provinces of Hodeidah, Dhamar, and al-Bayda.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Yemen reported that the US-British warplanes carried out an airstrike on Dhamar province and three additional strikes on Hodeidah International Airport. He noted that 10 strikes targeted the capital, Sanaa, as well as Hodeidah. The warplanes also struck the Mukayras district in southeastern al-Bayda province with three airstrikes.
Later, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces conducted strikes on 15 Ansar Allah targets in Yemen today at about 5 pm, claiming that they included offensive military capabilities.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/5/24)
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen today at about 5 p.m. (Sanaa time). These targets included Houthi offensive military capabilities. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.” (@CENTCOM 10/4/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two military operations in support of the oppressed Palestinian and Lebanese peoples and in solidarity with their Resistance, as well as in response to the US and British aggression on Yemen, announced spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Thursday.
The first operation, conducted jointly by the YAF's missile, UAV, and naval forces, targeted the American oil tanker OLYMPIC SPIRIT in the Red Sea with 11 ballistic missiles and two drones, Saree said, confirming that the strikes were precise and severe.
As for the second operation carried out by the YAF's missile force, it targeted the ST. JOHN ship in the Indian Ocean with a cruise missile, resulting in a direct hit, the spokesperson mentioned.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/10/24)
“Targeting 5 underground weapons storage sites, the US used advanced bunker busters, officials confirm. SecDef Lloyd Austin: ‘We can act anytime, anywhere.’ Massive show of force against Ansarallah! (@MilitantTracker 10/17/24)
“‘This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified,’ US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, adding that B2 long-range stealth bombers were used in the attack.
The underground sites were said to be housing missiles and other munitions and weapons components. A member of the Yemeni Ansarallah movement’s political bureau, Ali Qahoum, said the US-UK strikes were ‘a failed attempt to protect Israel and to dissuade us from supporting Gaza and Lebanon. The United States of America will pay the price for its aggression against Yemen,’ said the Deputy Head of Ansarallah’s Media Authority, Nasr al-Din Amer.” (the cradle.co 10/17/24)
“According to a report from Newsweek, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) reportedly came close to striking a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea with a missile earlier this year. The incident was detailed in the October issue of CTC Sentinel, a monthly publication by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, officially known as the United States Military Academy.
In the article, Michael Knights, the Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow with the Military and Security Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, highlighted how the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out "impressive feats of marksmanship" against ships using their weapons.
The article details that ‘an ASBM [anti-ship ballistic missile] or other missile arrived at a very shallow trajectory, with minimal warning, without a chance for interception, and splashing down around 200 meters [656 feet]’ from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/17/24)
“Yemen's Ansar Allah movement will continue its operations against ‘Israel’ and its supporters in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people, according to Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the movement's leader.
His remarks came in a televised speech on Thursday, as US and British warplanes launched airstrikes on Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, with the Pentagon confirming the use of B-2 stealth bombers for the first time in the region.
Al-Houthi condemned the airstrikes and accused the US of enabling the Israeli aggression throughout West Asia. ‘Washington seeks to enable the Tel Aviv regime to dominate the entire region through both political and economic means,’ he said.” (English.almayadeen.net 10/18/24)
“On Friday evening, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that the Yemeni Air Force targeted the ship MEGALOPOLIS in the Arabian Sea using several drones, confirming that the objectives of the operation were achieved.
Saree explained that the targeting of the ship came after its owning company violated the decision to ban entry into the Israeli-operated ports of occupied Palestine. The ban came as a show of solidarity with, and in support of, the plight of the Palestinian and Lebanese people.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/18/24)
“A Yemeni hypersonic ballistic missile struck an Israeli military target in occupied Yafa (Tel Aviv), on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced.
The YAF's Rocket Force fired the Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile at the military target on Tuesday. Saree emphasized that the missile bypassed all Israeli and American air defense systems in the region before striking its target.” (english.almayadeen.net 10/22/24)
“Russia provided targeting data to Yemen’s Houthi rebels when they attacked Western shipping in the Red Sea with missiles and drones earlier this year, helping the Iran-backed group attack a vital artery of global trade and further destabilize the region.
The Houthis, who began their attacks late last year over the war in Gaza, eventually began using Russian satellite data to expand their strikes, said a person familiar with the matter and two European military officials. The data was passed through members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who had been embedded among the Houthis in Yemen, one of the sources said.” (wsj.com 10/24/24)
“U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire and sank three small boats carrying Houthi militants in the Red Sea on Sunday, after U.S. warships responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel, military officials said.
A Maersk container ship, the Singapore-flagged Hangzhou, issued a distress call at about 6:30 a.m. local time, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Sunday. The merchant vessel said four small boats were attacking it.
‘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,’ Central Command said.” (abcnews.go.com 10/28/24)
“Yemen's Houthis said on Monday that they targeted three ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, attacks they called part of their efforts to enforce a naval blockade on Israel. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a televised address the vessels were targeted for attempting to approach ports bound for Israel. According to the latest data from LSEG, all three targeted vessels were Liberia-registered.” (reuters.com 10/28/24)
“The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a drone attack on the industrial zone in the Ashkelon region of southern Israel on 29 October. Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement that ‘the operation was carried out with a number of drones and succeeded in reaching its targets.’
On Monday, Yemeni forces carried out three operations targeting ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ‘confirming that accurate and direct hits were achieved in each of them.’” (the cradle.co 10/29/24)
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As i understand, all the UK/US/israeli cargo ships could take the longer route, but it would cost them 1 M USD extra per ship per trip, so basically US Navy is spending money, resources and lives (atleast those two SEALs) just to protect the profits of billionaire shipowners.
That story about SEALs being swept away from sailboat deck and drowning does not make much sense either, has to be most botched up mission ever if they had no immediate rescue planned. Would the entire team have died if the sailboat had sunk ? Almost like some made-up story to cover them dying while doing something else or having been struck by Houthi munitions...
Also extremely stupid for the UAE and israelis to construct military infrastructure in UNESCO World Heritage Site, that place is simply amazing (Socotra Island Archipelago) Why would they want to ruin that place, madness.
What have we accomplished, and at what cost? Your stack suggests the answer at least to the first question- precious little it seems.