US defense officials have stated that claims by the Houthi forces of targeting a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea with missiles are purely fictitious.
On Friday, May 31, Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Iran-backed Houthi military organization, claimed that the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier was targeted by missiles. Saree mentioned that this attack on the ship was in retaliation for the US and UK joint strikes on Yemen on Thursday, May 30.
On Thursday, the US and UK conducted coordinated strikes against the Houthi forces. The US Central Command announced on May 30 that the strikes against 13 Houthi targets had “successfully destroyed” eight unmanned aerial vehicles or drones controlled by the Houthi forces in the Yemen region and above the Red Sea.
Saree stated that the US-UK strikes resulted in 16 deaths, 41 injuries, the destruction of 8 drones, and hits on another 13 Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen.
The Houthi forces claimed to have launched missiles at the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier in response. However, a US defense official told Business Insider that reports of the USS Eisenhower being hit were false, and they were not even aware of any missiles hitting near the carrier.
According to the Associated Press, Saree claimed without providing any evidence that the rebels retaliated by attacking the USS Eisenhower with drones and ballistic missiles. Another unnamed US defense official mentioned that the aircraft carrier was unharmed.
Carrier strike groups like the USS Eisenhower can track missile threats from hundreds of miles away. The USS Eisenhower has been on missions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, locations farther from the range of Houthi missile attacks.
The USS Eisenhower is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and the first ship of the US Navy capable of countering Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Its carrier-based aircraft have been involved in strikes against Yemeni rebels, as well as in intercepting missiles and drones.
Since the arrival of the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in the Red Sea, they have been engaged in high-tempo combat operations against the Houthi forces to safeguard maritime routes and fend off Houthi attacks. The USS Eisenhower recently visited a port in Greece for reequipping, as US intelligence indicates that conflicts with the Houthi forces may continue.
The primary weapons used by the US to counter the Houthi forces include anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and one-way attack drones, aimed at disrupting the Houthi’s ability to target commercial vessels and US warships. The US has also targeted Houthi surface and underwater unmanned vessels. Following an increase in Houthi attacks last week, the US has resumed its combat operations.
This week, the US destroyed Houthi missile launchers in Yemen and intercepted aerial attack drones.
According to the US Central Command, on Tuesday, three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles hit a Greek-owned and operated merchant ship in the Red Sea. The Central Command reported no casualties, and the vessel was able to continue sailing.