Houthis announce new attack on American warships, fresh U.S. strikes

Houthis target U.S. warships, condemn Israel, sparking U.S. strikes and mass protests in Yemen, escalating tensions.

Yemen’s Houthis said on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) they carried out their third attack on American warships in 48 hours, following U.S. strikes on the Iran-backed rebels that sparked mass protests in areas under their control.

The rebels also condemned Israel’s wave of strikes on Gaza, which the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory said killed more than 400 people, vowing to escalate their own operations in support of ally Hamas.

The Houthis had targeted ships in the Red Sea after the start of the Gaza war and until a January ceasefire, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

But last week, they threatened to renew attacks on Israeli shipping over Israel’s aid blockade on the Palestinian territory, triggering the first U.S. strikes on Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January.

In their latest retaliation, the Houthis said on Telegram on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) that they fired missiles and drones at the USS Harry S. Truman, calling it the “third in the past 48 hours” on the fleet in the northern Red Sea.

A U.S. defence official said the Houthis “continue to communicate lies and disinformation”, adding the Iran-backed group is “well known for false claims minimising the results of our attacks while exaggerating the successes of theirs”.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich earlier told reporters it was “hard to confirm” the attacks claimed by the Houthis as the rebels were missing their targets “by over 100 miles” (160 km).