In a recent report, it has been highlighted that Houthi rebels are now posing a threat to US warships and shipping through the use of naval drones. The commander of a US Navy carrier strike group has expressed concern, asserting these weapons to be among the most alarming.

According to The Associated Press, as the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group defends against attacks in the Red Sea, Houthi rebels have introduced naval drones as an addition to their arsenal. Since January 4, the rebels have launched or attempted to launch numerous explosive uncrewed vessels into Yemeni waters, where they could jeopardize US Navy and commercial vessels. This development has introduced a new surface-level threat to the existing attacks involving airborne drones and missiles.

Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, the commander of the Eisenhower carrier strike group, has acknowledged the sea drones as an "unknown threat" with limited intelligence available but potentially possessing extreme lethality. He expressed deep concern over the prospect of having a bomb-laden unmanned surface vessel gaining fast speeds, emphasizing that without immediate intervention, the situation could turn dangerous swiftly.

Instances of Houthi naval drones encountering US forces have already occurred on multiple occasions in commercial shipping lanes. On February 5, two such drones were deemed an imminent threat to shipping, resulting in their elimination, as confirmed by US Central Command. The US military has also frequently targeted unmanned surface vessels that the Houthi rebels were preparing to launch.

The utilization of sea drones, although not entirely efficient, has been successfully pioneered by Ukraine against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine claims to have sunk a Russian corvette and a landing craft in the past two weeks alone, employing a handful of home-produced MAGURA V5 naval drones. The experts acknowledge that while these drones may not always reach their intended targets, the potential impact they carry grants Ukraine an immense asymmetric advantage.

Admiral Miguez further revealed the lack of intelligence regarding the number of drones possessed by the Houthi rebels. It is worth noting that the rebel group has previously deployed such drones against Saudi coalition forces involved in Yemen's civil war.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group has been persistently responding to a series of attacks and malign activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The strike-group commander highlighted the adaptation of their approach to proactively target Houthi missiles and drones before they can be launched.

As the situation unfolds, the US Navy remains vigilant in its efforts to combat the evolving threat posed by naval drones, solidifying their defense against potential attacks by Houthi rebels.