On February 4, Yemen's Houthi forces announced a major attack on two US Navy destroyers operating in the Red Sea. Military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group used multiple missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the assault.
“Our missile and air forces targeted two US destroyers in the Red Sea with a large number of missiles and drones,” Sarea said in a televised statement. He confirmed the attack was retaliation for recent US and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Earlier, on February 3, the US and UK conducted a series of airstrikes against 36 Houthi targets across Yemen, including command centers, weapons depots, and air defense systems. This was the coalition's second major wave of strikes since the campaign began in January.
US officials have not yet commented officially. Military sources say the destroyers' defense systems successfully intercepted many of the missiles and drones, with no reported casualties or damage.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have stepped up attacks on commercial and military vessels linked to Israel, the US, and the UK in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
The conflict has made key shipping routes hazardous, forcing many shipping lines to reroute via Africa's Cape of Good Hope, raising global freight costs and transit times.
