Iran-backed Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile towards the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Carney on January 26, 2024.
According to US CENTCOM, the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time in the Gulf southwest of Yemen’s port city of Aden. The USS Carney successfully intercepted and shot down the missile, preventing any injuries or damage.
According to US authorities, this marks the 37th such attack by Houthi rebels since November 2023 targeting both commercial vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These relentless assaults have impacted over 50 nations, leading to the diversion of more than 2,000 ships. The economic fallout has been significant, with 12% of global trade passing through the affected area.
Various international naval forces, including British, U.S., and French warships, have been actively engaged in defending vital shipping lanes against Houthi drones and missiles.
On January 11, 2024, in response to the escalating threat, US and British armed forces executed joint air strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen to quell attacks on shipping in the southern Red Sea, particularly those targeting international vessels.