US military launches strikes at Yemen in retaliation after missile attacks on Navy ship
The U.S. military launched cruise missile strikes on three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, retaliating after failed missile attacks this week on a U.S. Navy destroyer, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
The strikes authorized by President Barack Obama represent Washington’s first direct military action against Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen’s conflict. The Pentagon said initial U.S. assessments indicated the radar sites were destroyed.
“These limited self-defense strikes were conducted to protect our personnel, our ships, and our freedom of navigation in this important maritime passageway,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said. “The United States will respond to any further threat to our ships and commercial traffic, as appropriate.”
A U.S. military official told the Associated Press, missiles were fired early Wednesday at the USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyer that is conducting routine operations in the region, along with the USS Ponce, an amphibious warship. The official said the USS Mason used countermeasures, but neither missile got near the ship and there were no injuries.
The missiles were fired from the Yemen coast, which is near the location used Sunday when two missiles were launched at the same two ships.
A second official told the Associated Press that it wasn’t clear whether the ship’s countermeasures caused the missiles to hit the water on Wednesday or if they would have landed there anyway.
