JANUARY 19, 2024 – Yesterday, U.S. Central Command forces conducted defensive strikes on two Houthi antiship missiles that were aimed into the southern Red Sea, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, who spoke today at a news conference at the Pentagon.
Also, last night, U.S. Centcom conducted defensive strikes on 14 Houthi missiles at over a dozen locations, she said.
On Jan. 11, USS LEWIS B. PULLER (ESB 3) intercepts the dhow and conducts a nighttime boarding.
US Sailors maintained custody of the dhow until daybreak and completed an extensive search of the vessel with assistance of the US Coast Guard.
“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time,” she said.
These defensive strikes, carried out by Navy F/A-18 attack aircraft were taken because of the threat of imminent attack by the Houthis and to protect freedom of navigation, she said.
These strikes and others in past weeks were designed to degrade the Houthis capabilities to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, Singh said.
“The U.S. and the international community call on the Houthis to cease their unlawful attacks on commercial shipping vessels and to respect the international community’s right to freely and safely navigate international waters,” she said.
By David Vergun , DOD News