Intense 9-Hour Drama Unfolded as US Warship Intercepted Missiles Near Yemen

A US warship, the USS Carney, intercepted a greater number of drones and missiles near the coast of Yemen on Thursday than was previously known. Over a period of 9 hours, the warship successfully shot down 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones. This encounter provided a clearer assessment that the projectiles were indeed heading for Israel, based on their trajectory. The USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, had traveled through the Suez Canal and intercepted the missiles and drones as they were heading north along the Red Sea.

Israel is facing a continuous onslaught of drones and missiles, originating from beyond the confines of the Gaza conflict. This alarming development, among others, indicates a potential escalation of the war beyond the borders of the coastal enclave. Moreover, there have been ongoing protests at US embassies throughout the Middle East, with US and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq facing repeated attacks in recent days.

According to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, on Thursday, missiles were launched by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. These missiles were potentially aimed at targets in Israel. During the briefing, Ryder mentioned that three land-attack cruise missiles and "several" drones were involved.

It was revealed by a US official that some of these projectiles posed a potential threat to commercial aviation due to their altitudes. Fortunately, the USS Carney intercepted both the drones and missiles using SM-2 surface-to-air missiles.

The interception of Houthi launches by the US is extremely rare, adding significance to this particular incident, especially considering the increasing tensions in Israel. Back in October 2016, the USS Mason employed countermeasures to prevent an attack in the Red Sea, where a Navy destroyer and other nearby ships were being targeted. In response, the US launched sea-launched cruise missiles at Houthi radar facilities in Yemen.

According to the US Central Command, one-way attack drones targeted two different US positions in Iraq on Wednesday, resulting in minor injuries. The following day, the At-Tanf garrison in Syria, which accommodates US and coalition forces, was also attacked by two drones, causing minor injuries.

In Iraq, on Friday morning, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center near the airport, which accommodates US military, diplomatic, and civilian personnel, was targeted by two rockets. According to a US defense official, one rocket was successfully intercepted by a counter-rocket system, while the second rocket hit an unoccupied storage facility. Fortunately, there were no casualties resulting from this rocket attack. The US government has not yet determined responsibility for the recent attacks in Iraq and Syria. However, it is worth noting that in the past, Iranian proxies have conducted comparable drone and rocket attacks against US forces in both countries.

The US military has launched strikes against Iranian-backed militias in retaliation for previous attacks on US forces. However, the Pentagon has not revealed its intentions yet. Ryder stated, "Although I cannot predict the exact response to these attacks, I assure you that we will take all necessary measures to protect US and coalition forces from any danger. If there is a response, it will be executed at a time and in a manner of our choosing."