Aden (South24)

The United States (US) Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Tuesday that two American destroyers were attacked by the Houthis on Monday with eight drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said at a press briefing on Tuesday that "US Central Command forces successfully repelled multiple Iranian backed Houthi attacks during a transit of the Bab el Mandeb strait. During the transit, the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, USS Stockdale and USS Spruance were attacked by at least eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles which were successfully engaged and defeated."

“The vessels were not damaged, no personnel were hurt,” he added.

He also said that he was "not aware of any attacks against the Abraham Lincoln” aircraft carrier which the Houthis claimed to have targeted.

In a statement issued by the Houthis on Tuesday, the militia announced the implementation of two military operations targeting US naval forces in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, in response to what it described as "American and British aggression" against Yemen and in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

The Houthi statement said that the first operation targeted the US aircraft carrier ’Abraham Lincoln‘ using missiles and drones, and claimed to have thwarted a US air attack that was being prepared against Yemen.

The second operation targeted two US destroyers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones. Both operations lasted for eight hours, and they achieved success in hitting the targets, according to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea.

Meanwhile, the US carried out strikes on targets in Sanaa and Saada governorates in Yemen on Saturday and Sunday, including several weapons storage facilities used by the Iran-backed Houthi group.