[ryan robertson]

THE U.S. NAVY INTERCEPTED 16 MISSILES AND DRONES FIRED BY YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBELS AT TWO AMERICAN WARSHIPS AND THREE MERCHANT VESSELS IN THE GULF OF ADEN SUNDAY. 

NAVY OFFICIALS SAY THE USS STOCKDALE AND USS O’KANE DESTROYED THREE ANTI-SHIP BALLISTIC MISSILES, THREE DRONES, AND ONE CRUISE MISSILE. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE REPORTED.

HOUTHI MILITARY SPOKESMAN YAHYA SAREE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, SAYING THE GROUP LAUNCHED 16 BALLISTIC AND CRUISE MISSILES, ALONG WITH A DRONE, IN A COORDINATED OPERATION. SAREE IDENTIFIED THE MERCHANT VESSELS AS THE STENA IMPECCABLE, MAERSK SARATOGA, AND LIBERTY GRACE. SAREE CLAIMED “PRECISE AND DIRECT HITS” WERE ACHIEVED.

THE HOUTHIS DESCRIBED THE OPERATION AS PART OF A BROADER CAMPAIGN AGAINST U.S. AND ISRAELI INTERESTS, VOWING TO ESCALATE ATTACKS UNLESS THE BLOCKADE ON GAZA IS LIFTED. AS OF PUBLISH TIME, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM WASHINGTON REGARDING THE INCIDENT

REGIONAL TENSIONS REMAIN ESCALATED, WITH HOUTHI FORCES INCREASING ATTACKS ON VESSELS IN THE GULF OF ADEN, A CRITICAL MARITIME ROUTE THAT HANDLES NEARLY $1 TRILLION IN GLOBAL TRADE ANNUALLY.

MEANWHILE THE NAVY SAYS BOTH DESTROYERS ARE ON HIGH ALERT, ACTIVELY WORKING TO SECURE VITAL TRADE ROUTES IN THE GULF OF ADEN AND CONTINUING TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR VESSELS IN THE REGION.

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