Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching a significant barrage of missiles and drones targeting both the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S.
Truman in the Red Sea and Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
This escalation marks a dramatic intensification of the group’s operations amid ongoing U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and heightened tensions in the Middle East tied to the conflict in Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, the Houthis announced that they fired two ballistic missiles at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary aviation hub, while simultaneously targeting the USS Harry S.
Truman and accompanying U.S. warships with an array of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree described the operation as a success, claiming it was part of a broader campaign to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli actions in the region.
The group has repeatedly linked its attacks to solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel recently resumed military operations following the collapse of a ceasefire earlier this year.
CNN reported that Israel’s military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen early Thursday, March 20, marking the second such incident since the Gaza ceasefire unraveled.
The Houthis claimed this earlier strike also targeted Ben Gurion Airport, though Israeli defenses neutralized the projectile before it crossed into Israeli territory.
No casualties or significant damage were reported, but the recurring attacks have heightened regional tensions. The latest assault on March 24, if confirmed, would represent an even bolder move by the Houthis against Israeli infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Houthis’ claims of striking the USS Harry S. Truman have not been independently verified.
The New York Times noted that U.S. Central Command has conducted multiple precision strikes on Houthi targets in recent days, including command facilities and weapons storage sites in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
These operations, part of a broader U.S. campaign under President Donald Trump to curb Houthi aggression, have reportedly killed dozens and aimed to degrade the group’s ability to threaten maritime trade and U.S. assets.
However, the Pentagon has not yet commented on the alleged attack on the Truman, leaving the Houthi claims unconfirmed as of Monday evening.
BBC coverage highlighted the context of the Houthi offensive, noting that the group fired a ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport on March 20, intercepted by Israel, and followed up with further threats after U.S. strikes killed at least 53 people in Yemen over the weekend.
The Houthis have vowed to escalate their operations, including against U.S. naval forces, in response to what they call “American aggression.”
The rebels’ earlier attempt to target the USS Harry S. Truman on March 16 was reported by Al Jazeera, with the group claiming to have launched 18 missiles and a drone, though U.S. officials have not acknowledged any successful hits on American vessels.
Reuters added that the Israeli military intercepted another missile from Yemen on March 22, signaling the Houthis’ persistent efforts to strike Israel despite intensified U.S. and Israeli countermeasures.
The rebels’ ability to sustain such attacks underscores their growing sophistication, likely bolstered by Iranian support, though Tehran has denied direct involvement in the latest operations.
The Houthis’ actions have drawn sharp rebukes from U.S. leadership. President Trump, as reported by CNN, warned Iran to cease backing the Houthis, promising that the rebel group would be “completely annihilated” if their assaults persist.
This rhetoric aligns with a U.S. military strategy that has seen continuous airstrikes on Houthi targets since mid-March, aimed at protecting Red Sea shipping lanes and countering threats to American and allied interests.
Fox News has yet to provide detailed coverage of the March 24 claims, but earlier reports from the outlet emphasized Trump’s threats of “overwhelming lethal force” against the Houthis, reflecting a hardline stance echoed across conservative U.S. media.
Meanwhile, posts on X, such as those from RT and Al Jazeera’s official accounts, indicate the Houthis claimed to have used a hypersonic missile in the attack on Ben Gurion Airport, though no evidence has substantiated this assertion.
The situation remains fluid, with the U.S. and Israel yet to fully respond to the Houthis’ latest claims.
Analysts suggest that while the rebels have exaggerated past successes, their persistent targeting of high-profile assets like the USS Harry S. Truman and Ben Gurion Airport demonstrates a willingness to escalate despite significant losses.
As of now, the international community watches closely, with the United Nations calling for restraint to prevent further destabilization in an already volatile region.
