Yemeni Forces Target U.S. Aircraft Carrier for Second Time in 24 Hours

Tensions are escalating in the Red Sea as Yemen’s Houthi forces launched a second attack in 24 hours on a U.S. aircraft carrier. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the USS Harry S. Truman and its accompanying destroyers, in another confrontation between the group and the U.S. military .

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that their forces targeted the USS Harry S. Truman and two American destroyers with ballistic missiles and drones. The attacks, which were reported to have lasted nearly eight hours, were in retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes in Yemen and were part of their continued show of support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Despite Houthi claims, the U.S. Department of Defense has not verified either effective strikes on the aircraft carrier or casualties. Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder confirmed that U.S. naval forces downed multiple drones and missiles launched by the Houthis, preventing any significant damage or casualties

The attack comes amidst heightened tensions in the region following a flurry of U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 16. Those strikes killed at least 53 and wounded nearly 100, Houthi sources said. The U.S. Department of Defense described the airstrikes as warranted retaliatory measures following Houthi attacks on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea.

Washington has repeatedly accused the Houthis of threatening maritime security by targeting international vessels that pass through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The US and its allies have carried out numerous military strikes in the region to deter Houthi aggression and safeguard global trade routes.

The tit-for-tat assaults by the U.S. and Houthi forces are a risky escalation, fueling concerns of broader war. In response to the most recent airstrikes, Houthi leaders have vowed to continue to target U.S. military sites, asserting they will avenge each attack on Yemeni soil

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has reiterated its resolve to protect commercial shipping and regional stability. American officials have warned that they will continue to conduct military operations against the Houthis for as long as the group persists with attacking international trade routes

The Yemen war, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa has engaged regional and international players for years. Iran has been accused of supplying weapons to the Houthis, which Tehran and the Houthis have both denied. The conflict has spawned a humanitarian catastrophe with thousands of civilians dead and widespread famine.

As both sides have vowed to do more, the Red Sea region remains a flashpoint for conflict. The Houthis have already shown that they are capable of firing sophisticated missile and drone attacks, which has set alarm bells ringing over the security of global waterways. For its part, the continued presence and counter-measures of the U.S. military indicate it will not back down from protecting its strategic interests.

Diplomatic attempts at reducing tensions are tenuous at best, with both sides seemingly hell bent on pursuing their respective military campaigns. The international community and more specifically countries dependent on Red Sea trade routes, will be watching the situation closely as the potential for greater escalation hangs in the balance

For now, the U.S.-Houthi conflict is an acute security challenge with consequences not only for the Middle East. The coming days should indicate whether the clash devolves into a protracted military confrontation or diplomacy can hammer out a ceasefire.