Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa
Sanaa, Mar 18: Yemen's Houthi forces have launched a fresh assault on a US aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea, marking the third such attack within 48 hours. In response, the US military has intensified its airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions, including the capital, Sanaa.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea confirmed the attack in a televised statement on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "We targeted the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea using two cruise missiles and two drones," he said.
Additionally, Sarea claimed that the group launched another attack on an American destroyer in the Red Sea, using a cruise missile and four drones. "We will not stop targeting all hostile entities in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea until the aggression against our country ceases," he declared, referring to the ongoing US airstrikes against Houthi positions.
On Monday, US forces conducted airstrikes on strategic Houthi sites in and around Sanaa, as well as the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. According to al-Masirah TV, dozens of military locations and residential areas in Houthi-controlled territories were struck by US warplanes over the past two days.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to continue the air campaign until the Houthis halt their attacks on international shipping routes.
The recent escalation follows last week's announcement by the Houthi group that they would resume targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Houthis have tied these attacks to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, demanding that border crossings be reopened and humanitarian aid be allowed into the besieged Palestinian territory.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out multiple drone and missile strikes against Israel-linked vessels and cities in a show of support for Palestinians. The conflict has since widened, with US and British naval forces retaliating against Houthi targets in an effort to safeguard international maritime traffic.