The Iran-backed Houthis have retaliated to the US air strikes, 24 hours after the US launched airstrikes at Houthi targets within Yemen. The militant group claimed on Telegram that the attack was "in retaliation to the continued American aggression."
Houthis claimed they launched 18 missiles and a drone at the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships. Though the US has not officially responded to the reports, a US official told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity that the Houthis did fire drones and at least one missile in its first claimed attack.
The attack began about midnight Saturday-Sunday local time in Yemen and 11 drones and one missile were fired over 12 hours. While 10 drones were intercepted by US Air Force fighter hets, one was intercepted by a Navy F/A-18 fighter jet.
🚨 Houthi terrorists have just attacked the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier 🤯
— Majority Unsilenced (@MajUnsilenced) March 16, 2025
Trump is going to unleash hell!
They are dead men walking 💀 pic.twitter.com/e1fYvjwkn4
The official said that beginning at about midnight Saturday-Sunday local time in Yemen, the Houthis fired 11 drones and at least one missile over about 12 hours. Ten of the drones were intercepted by US Air Force fighter jets and one was intercepted by a Navy F/A-18 fighter jet. The missile fell into the water far from the ship, and nothing came close to hitting either the carrier or the warships in its strike group, the official added.
However, Iranian state media quoted a statement by Yemeni armed forces which said they "targeted the American aircraft carrier with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, in an engagement that lasted several hours."
"The Yemeni Armed Forces successfully thwarted a hostile attack that the enemy was preparing to launch against our country," the statement read. "Enemy warplanes were forced to return to their launch points after a series of missile and drone strikes targeted the aircraft carrier and several of its accompanying warships," it said.
Israel on alert
The counterattack by Yemenis has put Israel on its toes after a missile launched from Yemen landed in Egypt overnight between Saturday and Sunday. The IDF said it was investigating whether the missile was aimed at Israel. It has also stepped up alerts for Houthi missile and drone attacks on the country.
