Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, marking an escalation in regional tensions. According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, the group launched three separate attacks using cruise missiles and drones within a 24-hour period.
The Houthi-run al Masirah TV aired a statement from Sarea on Sunday, in which he asserted that the attacks were part of the group’s ongoing operations in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis have repeatedly stated that they will not halt their operations until Israel ceases its military actions in Gaza and lifts its blockade.
In response to the Houthi escalation, the U.S. military has intensified airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions in northern Yemen. Earlier on Sunday, Houthi media outlets reported that the U.S. conducted 16 airstrikes on key locations, including Mount Nabi Shu’ayb in Bani Matar District near the capital, Sanaa, as well as sites in Saada province. No casualties were reported from these strikes.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group that has controlled much of northern Yemen since 2014, have been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government. Their attacks on U.S. and Israeli-linked targets have increased in frequency, particularly in the Red Sea, a vital shipping route for global trade.
The U.S. has justified its airstrikes as a necessary measure to deter Houthi aggression and protect international shipping. However, the Houthis have vowed to respond to American military actions with further escalation, declaring their intent to continue attacking U.S. and allied assets in the region.
Tensions have been further exacerbated by broader geopolitical factors, particularly Iran’s alleged support for the Houthis. The group’s actions are seen as part of a wider proxy conflict involving regional powers.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed that American airstrikes against the Houthis would persist “for a long time,” signaling continued military engagement in the region. As the conflict intensifies, concerns grow over its potential impact on global trade, regional stability, and humanitarian conditions in Yemen.
