US fights off Houthi drone attacks on aircraft carrier after Trump ramps up strikes on Yemen

17 March 2025, 00:00

The rebels on Sunday claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S Truman carrier strike group with missiles and a drone.
The rebels on Sunday claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S Truman carrier strike group with missiles and a drone. Picture: Alamy

By Josef Al Shemary

US warships shot down around a dozen drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on the country, killing at least 31 people.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The US airstrikes on Saturday also injured more than 100 people. The rebels said one strike hit two homes in northern Saada province, killing four children and a woman.

Donald Trump said he ordered the 'decisive and powerful military action' in response to the Houthis' attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

The group has been targeting ships affiliated with Israel in the Red Sea to pressure the country to stop the war in Gaza.

The rebels on Sunday claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S Truman carrier strike group with missiles and a drone, but two US officials told The Associated Press they were not tracking anything.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

However, a senior US official told Fox News there were roughly a dozen drones, and that they were shot down ‘well before’ they posed a real threat.

One Houthi missile apparently failed, and dropped into the water off Yemen’s coast, and the US Navy took no action since there was no threat, according to the official.

People gather searching for victims among the rubble of a house hit by a U.S. strike in Saada, Yemen, on Sunday on March 16, 2025.
People gather searching for victims among the rubble of a house hit by a U.S. strike in Saada, Yemen, on Sunday on March 16, 2025. Picture: Alamy

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said that the Houthi armed forces carried out a ‘qualitative military operation’ targeting the warship and its accompanying vessels.

They used “18 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in a joint operation carried out by the missile force, Drone Air Force and the naval forces,” Saree said.

A number of US officials dismissed the claims, saying they were not aware of any attacks on the aircraft carrier.

It comes after the US attacked Yemen, killing 31 people and injuring over 100. The rebels said one strike hit two homes in northern Saada province, killing four children and a woman.

The US has launched a number of airstrikes under the Biden administration targeting the Houthis, a rebel group that has held Yemen's capital since 2014.

The group has been targeting ships affiliated with Israel in the Red Sea to pressure the country to stop the war in Gaza.

A plume of smoke billows during a US strike on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa early on March 16, 2025.
A plume of smoke billows during a US strike on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa early on March 16, 2025. Picture: Getty

The rebels had temporarily ceased their attacks on Israeli ships, but on Wednesday said it was “resuming the ban on the passage of all Israeli ships” in the Red Sea because Israel was not allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Read more: Iran denies aiding Houthi rebels after US strikes Yemen and Trump threatens to hold Tehran 'fully accountable'

Read more: Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

On Saturday, Trump announced increased US airstrikes on the Houthis, threatening that 'hell will rain down' if they don't cease their attacks.

The US president also made a direct threat to Iran, who the Houthis are aligned with, saying America will hold them accountable and "won’t be nice about it!"

The US and others have long accused Iran of providing military aid to the Houthis and the US Navy has seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry it said were bound for the militant group, which controls Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the country's north.

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. Picture: Alamy

The Houthis have attacked a number of US warships in the Red Sea, as a coalition of Israel, the US, UK and other states have carried out strikes against the rebels.

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global trade, forcing a large amount of cargo ships travelling between Asia and Europe away from the Suez Canal to take the far longer journey around Africa.

Read more: Trump set to ban citizens from 43 countries - including Russia, from travelling to US in shock immigration proposal

Read more: Military chiefs to meet in UK next week - as Starmer confirms Ukraine peace effort ‘moving into operational phase’

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the air strikes will not deter them and they would retaliate against the US.

"Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges," he added on social media.

The Houthis have attacked a number of US warships in the Red Sea, as a coalition of Israel, the US, UK and other states have carried out strikes against the rebels.

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global trade, forcing a large amount of cargo ships travelling between Asia and Europe away from the Suez Canal to take the far longer journey around Africa.

They stopped their drone and missile attacks on ships with Israeli links when the Gaza ceasefire was declared in January.

Smoke rises after the American-Israeli aircraft launched a series of airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, Yemen on March 15, 2025.
Smoke rises after the American-Israeli aircraft launched a series of airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, Yemen on March 15, 2025. Picture: Getty

"Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

"The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective," the US president said, signalling an escalation in US attacks.

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel's military declined to comment.

His social media post continued: "Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom.

"No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.

"To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!

"To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes," Trump added.

"If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!"

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Breaking
Israeli military tanks positioned along Israel's southern border with the northern Gaza Strip on March 19

Israel launches new 'pinpoint' ground invasion of Gaza alongside bombardment, as renewed offensive deepens

Breaking
President Trump Hosts Ukrainian President Zelensky At The White House

Trump says he had 'very good call with Zelenskyy' in first encounter since explosive White House row

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

UN says two workers killed in Israel strikes on Gaza, as Starmer says he's 'deeply concerned' by end of ceasefire

US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk (R) speak before departing the White House.

Elon Musk claims 'people want to kill me and hurt Tesla' over billionaire's job for Donald Trump

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent nine months in space

The ravaging effects of space on the human body revealed as astronauts touch down after 286 days

Kennedys Riding in Dallas Motorcade. minutes later he was assassinated

Lee Harvey Oswald was a 'poor shot' KGB claimed: Bombshell revelations from CIA's newly released JFK files

Zelenskyy has accused Putin of lying

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of lying after hospital bombing, with Ukrainian president to speak to Trump on Wednesday

Bulgarian club Arda Kardzhali apologises after holding a minute's silence for player who is still alive

Football club apologises after minute's silence for player - before discovering he's still alive

A call between Trump and Putin has been branded a failure

'Is this what a ceasefire looks like?' Putin accused of 'playing games' as Ukraine bombarded after Trump call

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that yesterday's agreement was a rejection of a ceasefire

'Putin bluntly rejected Trump's ceasefire plan', former Ukrainian PM tells LBC

Searchlights over Kyiv in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Putin hits energy plant hours after landmark Trump talks as Zelenskyy claims Russia has ‘effectively rejected’ ceasefire

One major question is whether the prince admitted to taking drugs on the form, which he later admitted in his memoir, Spare.

Harry’s US visa records released - but questions remain about drugs admission

Donald Trump has ordered the release of the last classified files surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy on Thursday, vowing that ‘everything will be revealed’.

'It's a lot of stuff' - Trump releases 80,000 classified pages relating to JFK assassination, honouring campaign promise

A private lunar lander has captured the first high-definition sunset pictures from the Moon.

Lunar lander captures first high-definition picture of sunset on the moon

NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft

Home at last: NASA astronauts greeted by dolphins as they land back on Earth after eight months stranded in space

One of Tesla’s earliest investors has called for Elon Musk to step down as CEO, saying the ‘divisive’ billionaire has ‘destroyed the company’s reputation’.

‘It’s a crisis’ - Top Tesla investor calls for ‘divisive’ Elon Musk to step down as CEO as stocks keep plunging