Houthis Claim Missile Attack on US Aircraft Carrier Eisenhower in Red Sea

In a significant escalation of hostilities in the Red Sea region, Yemen's Houthi rebels have announced that they launched a missile attack on the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. This action is in retaliation to recent airstrikes conducted by the US and British military in the Yemeni provinces of Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Taiz. The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree made the announcement, stating that the operation was a direct response to the coalition's recent operations in Yemen.

The attack, which reportedly occurred in the Red Sea, was confirmed by the Houthi spokesperson to have targeted the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. This claim, however, has not been independently verified, and the US Department of Defense has not confirmed the incident at the time of writing. A spokesperson for the US Central Command stated that they had no information on any attack from the Houthis. Additionally, Captain Chris "Chowdah" Hill of the Eisenhower posted a video of "Captain Demo" on board the ship after the Houthi claim, signaling that there was no imminent danger to the vessel. The recent airstrikes by the US and British military were part of a joint operation aimed at degrading the Houthi rebels' ability to persist with their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The British Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Royal Air Force conducted these strikes, targeting buildings that housed "long range drones, as well as surface-to-air weapons." This incident marks a new chapter in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition, supported by the US and the UK, which has been raging since 2015. The Houthis have been accused of launching more than 50 attacks on shipping vessels since November, resulting in the deaths of three sailors and the sinking of one ship. The group has also been involved in a series of drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has been a lead ship in the US Navy's response to the Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Its aircraft have been involved in strikes on the rebel group in Yemen, as well as intercepting missile and drone threats. The carrier has been operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, defending shipping lanes from relentless attacks by the Houthis. As of now, the situation remains tense, with the US and its allies facing the challenge of countering Houthi attacks while avoiding a broader conflict with Iran. The international community is closely monitoring the developments in the Red Sea, as any further escalation could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and global shipping routes.