Houthis Launch More Attacks As Frustrated U.S. Threatens Iran

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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced on April 30 that they had launched a number of suicide drones at the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and other warships of the United States Navy in the Arabian Sea in response to “American aggression” against Yemen.

The group’s military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree noted in a statement that the attack on USS Carl Vison came less than 24 hours after a similar attack that targeted another aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman, in the Red Sea and caused the loss of a $70 million F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet.

In the same statement, the spokesman announced that the Houthis also launched three Yafa suicide drones at “military and vital targets” near the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv, and targeted an additional “vital target” in the city of Askelon in the south of the country with a fourth drone.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm to all our great people and to all the free sons of our nation that they are capable, with God’s help, of standing firm and confronting the enemy with all its capabilities and potential, and that they have succeeded, thanks to God, in thwarting its aggression,” Brig. Gen. Saree said. “They will continue, with reliance on God and trust in Him, to confront it and support the oppressed Palestinian people until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted.”

Hebrew media didn’t report any warnings, interceptions or blasts near Tel Aviv or Ashkelon on April 30 or the day before, which indicate that the drones launched by the Houthis had failed to reach their targets.

The group’s attack on USS Carl Vison was also ignored by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for all American forces in the Middle East.

The U.S. military resumed strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on March 15 on orders from President Donald Trump, who said that the large-scale operation was launched in response to the group’s renewed attacks on Israel-affiliated shipping in the Red Sea. The British military joined the operation earlier this week.

Earlier in the week, CENTCOM revealed that its forces had attacked more than 800 targets in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, killing hundreds of the group’s fighters, including commanders.

“Since the start of Operation Rough Rider, USCENTCOM has struck over 800 targets. These strikes have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” the command said in a statement released on April 27.

“The strikes have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, and advanced weapons storage locations,” It added.

CENTCOM claimed that “while the Houthis have continued to attack our vessels, our operations have degraded the pace and effectiveness of their attacks. Ballistic missile launches have dropped by 69 percent. Additionally, attacks from one-way attack drones have decreased by 55%.”

“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis. The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime,” the command said.

“We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region,” it added.

CENTCOM noted that “to preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations. We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”

Despite the intensity of the strikes on Yemen, the operation has so far failed to deter the Houthis. Since the start of the operation, the group has launched dozens of missiles and drones, targeting U.S. warships and Israel. It also shot down seven MQ-9 Reaper combat drones, worth around $200 million, and was blamed for the recent loss of the Super Hornet from USS Harry S. Truman.

The resilience of the Houthis led to frustration in the U.S. On April 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran that it will face consequences for supporting the group.

“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote on the X social network. “You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”

Hegseth, on his personal X account, later reposted Trump’s message on Truth Social from March in which the president said he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthi group, which has repeatedly targeted Israel and regional shipping with missile and drone attacks.

The recent developments indicate that the Trump administration will not back down from the fight with the Houthis. In fact, more escalation is to be expected not only in Yemen but also against Iran. Washington appears to be willing to jeopardize the ongoing nuclear talks with Tehran.

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