In the aftermath of Sunday's deadly drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan, new details have emerged, shedding light on the incident. The White House has officially placed blame on an Iran-backed group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, for carrying out the strike that claimed the lives of three American service members. This revelation comes as reports emerge of multiple attempted attacks against U.S. warships in the Middle East.
One such incident took place in the Gulf of Aden, just south of Yemen. The U.S. warship Karni intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by the Houthis, a rebel group backed by Iran. In addition to the missile, the Karni also managed to fend off a few drones. The precise details of the encounter remain undisclosed.
In another unsettling development, the USS Gravely, operating in the Red Sea, had a Houthi cruise missile come alarmingly close - within a mile - of the destroyer. This particular cruise missile was the closest any attempted launch against U.S. warships in the Middle East has come. It is important to note that the Houthis are behind these attacks on international shipping lanes and their attempts to target U.S. and U.K. vessels and warships operating in the region.
The cruise missile managed to evade other defense systems, including intercept missiles, before being intercepted by the CIWS (close-in weapons system), an automated gun responsible for short-range defense. While a U.S. official has clarified that this harrowing incident does not indicate the development of any new weapon by the Houthis, it raises concerning questions about how the missile got dangerously close to the destroyer. Further investigation is warranted to understand the gaps in the defensive measures employed.
To date, approximately 40 Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes have been documented, with a parallel increase in U.S. strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. These strikes have garnered support from the United Kingdom as well. The relentless nature of these attacks underscores the ongoing threat posed by the Houthis, their determination to disrupt maritime operations, and their unyielding attempts to target U.S. and U.K. vessels and warships in the region.
The international community will closely monitor these escalating incidents and assess the implications for regional stability and security. With tensions mounting, it becomes crucial to further develop and strengthen defensive strategies to safeguard against future attacks, while diplomatic efforts are pursued to address the underlying issues fueling the conflict.
