The Houthi rebel group reported a successful attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier earlier this week.
The Pentagon is reportedly astonished by the Yemeni Houthi rebels’ expanding military capabilities, Axios reported Thursday. According to the news outlet, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, Bill LaPlante, expressed alarm at the group’s advancements at a Washington defense summit this week, stating their capabilities are “getting scary.”
The Houthis, who control Sanaa and large parts of northwestern Yemen, have been disrupting Red Sea shipping for the past year to pressure Israel regarding the Gaza conflict.
LaPlante reportedly stated his shock at the Houthis’ actions over the past six months, describing their increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including missiles with “amazing” capabilities.
On November 12th, the Houthis claimed a successful missile strike on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, along with attacks on two US destroyers in the Red Sea, reportedly using cruise missiles and drones. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed to have disrupted US forces for eight hours.
The Pentagon countered that the Houthi missiles and drones were intercepted and that US warships sustained no damage. A spokesperson also denied any attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
This reported attack comes amidst heightened regional tensions. The Houthis are using their military gains to press for political concessions, including an end to what they term “Israeli aggression” in Lebanon.
While the US has accused Iran of supporting the Houthis, Iran denies involvement, claiming the group operates independently.