A US Navy destroyer intercepted missiles, possibly aimed at Israel, launched by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels.
According to Pentagon reports, the USS Carney, a prominent US Navy warship, successfully intercepted three missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. This crucial intervention occurred while the ship was patrolling the Red Sea.
Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, confirmed in a press conference that the cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthis were neutralized over international waters. “The trajectory and launch of these missiles and drones from Yemen northward across the Red Sea suggest possible intentions to attack targets in Israel,” Ryder explained.
Given their potential threat, the missiles were shot down based on their flight profiles. Ryder emphasized that the United States will take all necessary measures to “safeguard our allies and protect our interests in the region.” Meanwhile, evaluation of the specific targets of the intercepted missiles is ongoing.
Reports from Israel, specifically from Channel 13, include anonymous assessments suggesting that Israel was likely the target of the missiles. Additionally, anonymous Israeli sources informed Army Radio and Walla that the missiles were headed to the Jewish state.
In the context of tension between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi rebels have openly shown their support for the Palestinians, adopting a provocative slogan: “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse to the Jews, Victory of Islam.” Iran, for its part, has hinted that Israel’s actions against terrorists in Gaza could provoke more severe threats, highlighting the Hamas attack on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people.
Both Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have warned of the consequences of continuing conflicts, suggesting a possible expansion of the war if a political solution is not reached.
The situation in Yemen is also volatile, with demonstrations in support of Palestine and Iran in Houthi-controlled Sana’a. Abdel-Malek al-Hutí, head of the rebel group, has threatened retaliation against the United States, including launching drones and missiles.
Israel has maintained a campaign of airstrikes since October 7, responding to a massive incursion by terrorists who massacred more than 1,400 people. Israel’s efforts aim to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure, promising to eradicate the terrorist organization. In response, approximately 3,700 casualties were reported in Gaza due to Israeli bombing.
