This official US Navy Photo shows an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) in the Arabian Gulf on November 28, 2023.
Yes, in case you were wondering, the US is very much a part of this ongoing war in the Middle East.
On Tuesday in the Red Sea, the US Navy’s destroyer USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Eisenhower effectively countered a series of aggressive moves by Houthi forces from Yemen. US Central Command disclosed via social media that the coordinated defensive action successfully intercepted an assortment of twelve drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two cruise missiles aimed at land for 10 hours starting at 6:30 a.m. local time.
This vigorous defense occurred just a week after the Pentagon announced the establishment of a new regional task force dedicated to safeguarding commercial vessels from similar threats. Since October 19, the Houthis have been persistently targeting maritime routes in the Red Sea, attempting to disrupt support channels for Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Despite the intensity of the assault, no harm was reported to nearby ships or personnel. This event marks the inaugural response by Navy jets to Houthi-initiated aggression. Additionally, just days before, on December 23, the Laboon was compelled to neutralize four drones advancing toward it.
Inquiries to the Pentagon for further details on the previous incident remained unanswered. These assaults are part of a broader pattern by the Houthis aiming to jeopardize merchant shipping in the region, challenging the US’s ability to deter further conflicts and questioning the containment of Israel’s confrontation with Hamas.
In early December, Houthi representatives declared their intent to continue disrupting Israeli maritime activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the cessation of Israeli actions in Gaza. Despite these tensions, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh emphasized the importance of recognizing that the situation has not escalated into a broader regional conflict.
U.S. assets, to include the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the… pic.twitter.com/vRQ5e6Au6d
Yes, in case you were wondering, the US is very much a part of this ongoing war in the Middle East.
On Tuesday in the Red Sea, the US Navy’s destroyer USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Eisenhower effectively countered a series of aggressive moves by Houthi forces from Yemen. US Central Command disclosed via social media that the coordinated defensive action successfully intercepted an assortment of twelve drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two cruise missiles aimed at land for 10 hours starting at 6:30 a.m. local time.
This vigorous defense occurred just a week after the Pentagon announced the establishment of a new regional task force dedicated to safeguarding commercial vessels from similar threats. Since October 19, the Houthis have been persistently targeting maritime routes in the Red Sea, attempting to disrupt support channels for Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Despite the intensity of the assault, no harm was reported to nearby ships or personnel. This event marks the inaugural response by Navy jets to Houthi-initiated aggression. Additionally, just days before, on December 23, the Laboon was compelled to neutralize four drones advancing toward it.
Inquiries to the Pentagon for further details on the previous incident remained unanswered. These assaults are part of a broader pattern by the Houthis aiming to jeopardize merchant shipping in the region, challenging the US’s ability to deter further conflicts and questioning the containment of Israel’s confrontation with Hamas.
In early December, Houthi representatives declared their intent to continue disrupting Israeli maritime activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the cessation of Israeli actions in Gaza. Despite these tensions, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh emphasized the importance of recognizing that the situation has not escalated into a broader regional conflict.
U.S. assets, to include the USS LABOON (DDG 58) and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot down twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the… pic.twitter.com/vRQ5e6Au6d
On December 18, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new international initiative with partners including the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, aimed at reinforcing security in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This move followed decisions by several major shipping firms to reroute from the region due to safety concerns. However, the exact nature of this task force and how it differs from existing operations remains somewhat unclear, with reports of varied commitments from participating nations.
Despite initial hesitance from some countries, the shipping industry, including Maersk, welcomed the initiative, seeing it as a positive step towards resuming safer maritime transit through the Red Sea. The USS Laboon, alongside other US Navy vessels like the USS Carney, USS Mason, and USS Hudner, has now been recognized for its role in defending against Houthi military actions in the area.
This won’t be the end of naval actions by the US in the Red Sea against the Iranian-backed enemies of Israel.
Keep reading SOFREP to follow daily developments.
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