Houthis claim to target US aircraft carrier
In a statement, a spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi rebels says they targeted the USS Harry Truman in an engagement that lasted “for hours”. He also said the group attacked other US surface vessels with “a number of cruise missiles”.
The Houthis also claimed to attack the USS Truman yesterday. However, no statement on these claims has yet been made by the US Army.
Continuation of our operations show ‘American failure’: Houthi leader
Houthi chief Abdel Malik al-Houthi says the fact that the Yemeni group is still capable of launching missiles and drones “at sea and deep within the enemy’s territory” shows that the US has failed.
In his latest televised speech, he said the “escalation of the American aggression” on Yemen in recent days has not eliminated the group’s military capabilities, and that the Houthis do not fear being in direct conflict with the US and Israel.
“We are not like those who watch the crimes of the Israeli enemy in Gaza. Rather, we are fulfilling our responsibility before God and will continue to support the oppressed Palestinian people,” al-Houthi said, calling on other Arab countries to take action as well.
“We will not be intimidated by America. We will continue our operations, and what matters to us is that God is pleased with us and that we escape his wrath while at the same time satisfying our human conscience.”
US spends almost $1bn on deadly Yemen strikes with limited results: Report
The Trump administration has spent nearly $1bn on attacks across Yemen since March 15 with limited impact on Houthi military capabilities, a news report says.
The Pentagon will likely need to request more funding from Congress to continue the deadly military campaign, but it may not receive it amid criticism from both sides of the aisle, one unnamed source told US broadcaster CNN.
US military and political officials have reportedly told Congress in recent days the Houthis have managed to fortify bunkers and maintain weapon stockpiles underground even though some of their military sites were destroyed.
The US has used long-range cruise missiles, GPS-guided glide bombs, and Tomahawk missiles in its attacks on Yemen while also utilising B-2 bombers out of Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean and bringing in a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
Israel’s army shoots down drone coming ‘from the east’
The Israeli military says its air defences intercepted a drone coming towards Israel “from the east”, without elaborating further. An initial assessment said the unmanned aerial vehicle was likely launched from Yemen, according to Israeli media.
The Houthis have not immediately commented, but the incident comes hours after the Yemeni group’s leader promised to continue attacks despite dozens of US air strikes across Yemen in recent days.
Yemen’s Houthis say they shot down F360 reconnaissance drone
The Houthi military spokesperson confirmed a single drone that Israel said was intercepted a few hours ago after coming “from the east” was launched by the Yemeni group.
The Houthis also shot down a Giant Shark F360 reconnaissance drone, Yahya Saree said in a televised speech.
The unmanned vehicle was “carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Saada governorate” when it was brought down “using a locally made surface-to-air missile”, said Saree.
