### Houthi Rebels Target U.S. Navy Ships with Drone and Missile Assaults

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant escalation, Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a series of drone and missile attacks on two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Stockdale and the USS Spruance, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Defense Department disclosed on Tuesday that the attacks, which included at least eight drones and multiple ballistic and cruise missiles, were unsuccessful, resulting in no damage or injuries.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a crucial corridor between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, through which about $1 trillion worth of goods pass annually. The Houthis have intensified their assaults on shipping in this narrow waterway, targeting vessels amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon. In response, U.S. and allied forces have conducted coordinated airstrikes on Houthi launch sites and weapons storage, and formed an international coalition to secure commercial shipping, yet the Houthi attacks persist.

The Houthis have announced that their attacks will continue as long as the regional conflicts persist. According to a U.N. panel of experts, the rebel group's assaults have reduced shipping traffic in the area by half, and they allegedly extort around $180 million monthly from shippers for safe passage.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed in a prerecorded statement that the rebels had targeted the two American destroyers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones. In an associated incident, a commercial ship near the rebel-held port city of Hodeida also reported an attack. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the vessel continued its journey.

Since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, the Houthis have attacked over 90 merchant vessels with drones and missiles and even seized and sunk ships, resulting in the death of four sailors. Many of the targeted vessels had no direct connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with some even headed to Iran. The rebels assert they aim to pressure Western entities linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., but their attacks have often affected unrelated ships.

U.S. military responses have included the downing of several American MQ-9 Reaper drones and airstrikes targeting Houthi positions. The rebels' last attack occurred on October 28, targeting the Liberian-flagged bulk tanker Motaro, with a prior attack on October 10 targeting another Liberian-flagged chemical tanker.

A recent U.N. report from October indicates the Houthis might be collecting illegal fees from some shipping agencies for safe passage through the area, generating substantial revenue. However, the Houthis have not responded directly to these allegations, despite evidence of threatening emails sent to shippers, with some ships later coming under Houthi attack.