Houthis hit USS Truman aircraft carrier group after strikes on Sanaa

Alameen Templeton
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed Monday to have twice attacked and hit an American aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation for deadly US strikes.
The Houthis launched 18 missiles and a drone at the “aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships” in the Red Sea, then fired a second round of missiles hours later.
There was no immediate comment on the record from the United States about the Houthis’ claimed attacks, but an unidentified “source” claimed a US warplane had shot down a cruise missile that formed part of the attack.
Raining missiles
A US official speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Houthis fired drones and at least one cruise missile in the first claimed attack, beginning at about midnight Saturday-Sunday local time in Yemen. He said the Houthis fired 11 drones and at least one missile over about 12 hours. Ten of the drones were intercepted by air force fighter jets and one was intercepted by a navy F/A-18 warplane.
He claimed the missile fell harmlessly into the water far from the ship, and nothing came close to hitting either the carrier or warships in its strike group.
Houthi spokesperson Brigadier-General Yahya Saree said the attacks on the carrier group were “in retaliation to the continued American aggression against our country.”
The Houthi health ministry claimed women and children were among 53 people killed and 98 wounded in Saturday strikes.
Houthi media reported more explosions on Sunday night, accusing the Americans of targeting a cotton factory in Hodeida and the command cabin of the Galaxy Leader, an Israel-linked ship captured in November 2023.
The Bahamas-flagged, Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader is owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham “Rami” Ungar.
The Houthis — whose motto calls for “death to Israel” and “a curse upon the Jews” — hijacked the Galaxy Leader with a helicopter-borne raid on November 19, 2023. They freed the crew in January 2025.
Houthis have played propaganda footage of the 2023 raid every night on their national television and the ship has become a popular tourist attraction with thousands of visitors every weekend.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed a “large scale operation” against the Houthis, which it said on Sunday night was continuing.
Civilians in the crosshairs
Witnesses in Sanaa described experiencing a “horrific explosion” that shook houses and shattered windows. Footage on Houthi media showed children, including a dazed girl with blackened legs wrapped in bandages, and a woman being treated in hospital.
The Houthis have sealed off areas around the blast sites, however, making it impossible to gauge the true scale of the destruction.
One father of two, who gave his name as Ahmed, told AFP: “I’ve been living in Sanaa for 10 years, hearing shelling throughout the war. By God, I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“My family and I were terrified,” he added.
On Saturday night a missile was launched from Yemen, which landed in Egypt. The IDF said it was investigating whether the missile was aimed at Israel.
The Israeli Air Force is on heightened alert for potential Houthi missile and drone attacks.
Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi called on Yemenis to march on Monday in defiance of the US.
The United Nations urged both sides to “cease all military activity.”
The Houthis, who control much of the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, have attacked Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza genocide, in solidarity with Palestinians.
Before this weekend’s missile exchange started by the US, the Houthis had not launched attacks since January 19, when a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip.
Ratcheting up the pressure
The group said it relaunched its attacks over Israel’s halting of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and would “move to additional escalatory options” if “the American aggression against our country continues.”
US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz told ABC News that Saturday’s strikes “targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out.”
King Donald Trump meanwhile has warned the Houthis “hell will rain down upon you” and demanded Iran stop supporting “Houthi terrorists.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the deadly US strikes and said Washington had “no authority” to dictate Tehran’s foreign policy.
The Houthis’ political bureau said its “forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation.”
A database set up by ACLED, a non-profit monitor, shows 136 Houthi attacks against warships and commercial vessels, as well as Israeli and other targets since October 19, 2023.
While the Red Sea trade route normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic, Houthi attacks have forced many companies into costly detours around southern Africa.