In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, American fighter jets successfully intercepted and shot down multiple Houthi drones fired from Yemen over a period of several hours on Sunday.
The incident, which took place over the Red Sea, marks the first time in more than two months that Houthi forces have directly targeted U.S. Navy ships.
The attack came just a day after the Truman Carrier Strike Group carried out multiple strikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen.
According to a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation, the Houthis launched 11 drones and one ballistic missile at the USS Harry S. Truman and its supporting ships.
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The engagements began shortly after midnight local time on March 16 and continued for approximately 12 hours. All of the drones were shot down by U.S. Air Force jets over the Red Sea, preventing any damage to the U.S. Navy vessels.
While the ballistic missile launched by the Houthis splashed into the water without threatening the Navy ships, Houthi spokesmen initially claimed a much larger assault.
In a public statement, they asserted that they had fired 18 missiles along with a single drone at the Truman Carrier Strike Group. This apparent discrepancy highlights the ongoing information war between U.S. and Houthi forces.
The Houthi assault followed U.S. Navy airstrikes on Houthi-controlled targets in western Yemen, including in the capital city of Sana’a. Those strikes, which were ordered on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of at least 98 people, according to local health officials.
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The U.S. military has continued to target Houthi military infrastructure in response to the group's persistent attacks on international shipping lanes.
In a televised address, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi warned that his forces would not back down. "If the United States continues their aggression, we will continue the escalation," he declared, signaling that further confrontations are likely.
In contrast, U.S. officials have remained resolute, vowing to take continued action against the Houthis until they cease targeting commercial and military vessels in the region.
Sunday's drone attack also came on the heels of renewed Houthi threats against maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The group had announced last week that it would resume attacks on commercial ships in retaliation for an Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza.
This announcement broke a two-month pause in Houthi operations, which had coincided with the January ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Since the fall of 2023, U.S. Navy forces have faced persistent threats from Houthi-fired drones and missiles.
These attacks, which were initially launched in response to the conflict in Gaza, have forced American warships to intercept dozens of airborne threats in order to protect both military and civilian vessels navigating the region.
Since October 2023, the U.S. Navy has fired hundreds of munitions in both defensive engagements and preemptive strikes on Houthi radar and launch sites.
The Truman Carrier Strike Group, which entered the Red Sea in December 2024, has played a leading role in countering Houthi aggression.
During its deployment, the carrier strike group has engaged in numerous combat operations, including strikes against Houthi positions and the interception of incoming missiles and drones.
Notably, on December 22, the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18F fighter jet from Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) while attempting to neutralize an incoming drone. Both pilots survived the incident, with one sustaining minor injuries.
With tensions once again on the rise, the latest engagement signals that the U.S. military is prepared to take decisive action against the Houthis if their attacks continue.
As both sides dig in, the risk of broader regional escalation remains a serious concern.
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