According to a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation, a U.S. warship engaged in intercepting drones and missiles off the coast of Yemen on Thursday faced a more extensive and prolonged onslaught than initially reported.

Over a span of 9 hours, the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer that recently transited the Suez Canal southbound, successfully shot down 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones.

These intercepted missiles and drones, initially heading north along the Red Sea, left little doubt that they were directed towards Israel, as assessed by the official, providing a clearer understanding than the initial Pentagon assessment, CNN reported.

The sustained barrage of drones and missiles targeting Israel from outside the Gaza conflict zone is among several concerning indicators that the conflict may expand beyond the confines of the coastal enclave.

In addition to protests occurring at U.S. embassies across the Middle East, there have been repeated attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq in recent days.

On Thursday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder indicated that the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and were possibly aimed at targets in Israel. During the briefing, Ryder mentioned three land-attack cruise missiles and “several” drones.

It’s noteworthy that some of these projectiles were flying at altitudes that posed a potential risk to commercial aviation when intercepted. The USS Carney utilized SM-2 surface-to-air missiles for intercepting the drones and missiles, as reported by CNN.

Incidents of the U.S. intercepting Houthi launches are rare, and the timing of this event, amid rising tensions in Israel, adds to its significance.

Written by staff