With tensions spiking in the Middle East, US forces in the region are facing increasing threats as a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel on Thursday.
A U.S. Navy warship intercepted on Thursday three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, the Pentagon said.
The Pentagon said the guided missile destroyer, USS Carney, operating in the Northern Red Sea, shot down three land-attack cruise missiles, and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.
This action by the Carney potentially represented the first shots by the US military in the defense of Israel in this conflict.
Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the missiles were “potentially” headed toward Israel but said the US hasn’t finished its assessment of what they were targeting.
Ryder said at a news briefing that information about these engagements is still being processed and the Pentagon cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but “they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel.”
Pentagon spokesman confirmed that there were no casualties to U.S. Forces and “none that we know of to any civilians on the ground.”
He also highlighted the fact, during the press briefing, when he was asked on whether Iran directly tied to the Hamas attack of October 7, that it is well known that Iran has a significant relationship with Hamas in terms of funding, training, and support, and in that regard they certainly bear some responsibility, but as he said there is no direct linkage to these attacks.
As the official noted, US has the capability to defend its broader interests in the region and to deter regional escalation, Israelis and broader expansion of the conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on Israeli civilians on October 7th.
“The crew of the Carney did just that. And across the Force we will remain vigilant to any other potential threats.”
“This action was a demonstration of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Architecture that we have built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilize whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests in this important region.”
The Pentagon predicts that this threat in the region may be ongoing. Already the U.S. military forces defended against three drones near U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq.
