New Escalation in the Red Sea: Houthis Claim Third Attack on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier

Tensions between Washington and Yemeni rebels intensify

The Houthis claimed on Tuesday, March 18, to have carried out a third attack in 48 hours against the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in the Red Sea. According to their statement on Telegram, they allegedly struck the vessel with two cruise missiles and two drones, while also targeting a U.S. destroyer with an additional missile and two more drones.

Retaliation for U.S. Airstrikes

These attacks come in response to recent American airstrikes targeting several Houthi strongholds in Yemen. On Saturday, Washington bombed rebel positions in Sanaa, Saada, and Radaa, killing 53 people, including five children, according to the Houthis. The Pentagon, meanwhile, claimed to have eliminated several insurgent commanders and vowed to continue operations “until the president’s objectives are met.”

In reaction to this escalation, massive protests erupted in Houthi-controlled areas. In Sanaa, Saada, Hodeida, and Amran, thousands of Yemenis denounced the U.S. strikes, chanting slogans hostile to the United States and Israel.

Trump Warns Iran, Tehran Responds

The crisis is also taking on a diplomatic dimension. Donald Trump declared that “every shot fired by the Houthis will now be considered an Iranian shot” and threatened Tehran with “terrible consequences.” Iran immediately responded, condemning his remarks as “warmongering statements” and warning that any attack on its territory would have severe repercussions for Washington.

At the same time, the Houthis condemned Israeli airstrikes carried out in Gaza on the night of Monday to Tuesday, which reportedly killed over 330 people, according to Hamas. The Houthi Supreme Political Council reaffirmed its support for the Palestinians and announced its intention to escalate military actions in the region.

As tensions reach a critical level, the United States has yet to confirm the alleged attacks on its ships.