US Warship Shoots Down Drones From Houthi-Controlled Yemen

Facts

• US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that on Thursday morning the USS Thomas Hudner shot down 'multiple one-way attack drones' fired from Houthi-controlled territory within Yemen.¹
• CENTCOM stated that the warship was on 'patrol' in the Red Sea when the event occurred. The vessel reportedly did not incur damage or casualties.²
• The news comes after White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby stated earlier in the week that the US was reviewing 'potential terrorist designations' for the Houthi rebel group, who claimed Yemen's capital of Sanaa in 2014 at the beginning of the country's civil war.³
• The Houthis are a member of the so-called 'axis of resistance,' a group of Iranian-led supporters and proxies, who have launched drone and missile attacks against Israel following the current military operation in Gaza.⁴
• The event is the second time that the US warship has intercepted drones from Houthi-controlled territories within eight days, with US destroyer Carney also shooting down cruise missiles and drones on Oct. 19.⁵
• Speaking aboard a seized cargo vessel on Sunday, Houthi General Mohammed Fadl Abdelnabi claimed that allies of the 'Zionist enemy' attempting to travel through the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea were considered a 'legitimate target.'⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²The Hill, ³Reuters, ⁴The Jordan Times, ⁵Navy Times and ⁶The Manila Times.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Republic World. The interception and neutralization of the Houthi drones was a strategic triumph for the USS Thomas Hudner and a showing of American military strength in the region. This incident not only highlights the current dangers facing numerous parts of the Middle East but also the proficiency of the US armed forces in protecting democratic values in an unstable world.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Middle East Monitor. The US continues to deploy its warships within the Middle East — this is costly economically to the American taxpayer, and costly geopolitically by giving unpopular support to Israel. This maritime aggression is actually undermining regional peace and security. US hegemony is making the world less safe.

Predictions