Destroyers of the U.S. Navy from the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group recently launched Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles (TLAM) against Houthi infrastructure in Yemen. The Tomahawk strike occurred on December 31 within the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
According to details released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), “…guided-missile destroyers of the U.S. Navy from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, operating in the Red Sea, launched Tomahawk land-attack missiles (TLAM) against command and control facilities, weapons production, and storage sites used by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen on December 31…”
The actions carried out by U.S. naval and air forces deployed in the Red Sea took place between December 30 and 31. Ships and aircraft attacked several Houthi installations in Yemen, including facilities for producing and storing advanced conventional weapons, such as missiles and drones. “…These facilities were used in Houthi operations, including attacks on U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft destroyed a Houthi coastal radar and seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea…,” CENTCOM added in its press release.
This new offensive at the end of 2024 follows a particularly turbulent December in the Red Sea. Alongside Houthi drone and missile launches, Israeli Defense Forces carried out airstrikes against various land targets in Yemen, and a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter-bomber was downed by friendly fire.
This incident raised alarms within the U.S. Navy, as the Super Hornet was struck by the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg. The F/A-18F was hit during its final approach to land on the USS Harry S. Truman, a critical phase from which its crew managed to escape unscathed. A second aircraft reportedly evaded the fratricidal attack.
U.S. naval forces, alongside allied nations, maintain a presence in the Red Sea to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships, which has been threatened in recent months by persistent Houthi attacks. From their territory in Yemen, Houthi forces harass regional maritime routes with launches of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aerial and naval drones.
Despite coalition efforts, Houthi attacks have not ceased. However, the situation in Yemen could worsen for these forces due to Israel’s interest in suppressing Iranian allies targeting its territory. With fronts in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon under control, the Israeli Defense Forces will likely focus part of their efforts on eliminating threats originating from Yemen.
Cover image: CENTCOM
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