Houthis retaliate with strikes against US navy carrier group

In Yemen, on March 16, 2025, the Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, declared they had executed a series of two long-range strikes targeting a US navy carrier group, which included the USS Harry Truman. This retaliation followed a deadly US bombing campaign in Yemen that began over the preceding weekend, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 53 individuals and left nearly 100 injured, as reported by the Houthi-run health ministry. While the Houthis claimed to have launched approximately 18 ballistic missiles and drones at the carrier and its accompanying warships, it is important to note that they did not confirm whether their strikes successfully hit the intended naval targets. The ongoing military situation has seen the Houthi movement remain in control of significant regions in Yemen, particularly the capital city of Sanaa, since the mid-2010s, positioning them as the de-facto authorities amidst a prolonged civil conflict. The events were precipitated by President Donald Trump’s order for a “powerful military action” against the Houthis due to what he termed an “unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism.” Following this directive, the US aligned with efforts from both the UK and Israel, which had previously bombed alleged military sites of the Houthis. In response to the US action, Houthi leadership confirmed their decision to strike back against US military interests, marking a notable escalation in their ongoing conflict. The Houthis claimed their strikes were intended as both a defense mechanism and a show of solidarity with the Palestinians amid rising regional tensions, particularly due to disagreements over humanitarian aid to Gaza. Throughout the previous months, there had been a noticeable shift in Houthi operations, as they had momentarily ceased their attacks on international shipping after Israel and Hamas reached a temporary truce. However, just last week, the Houthis announced the resumption of strikes after asserting that Israel had failed to meet their stipulated deadlines for providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza. This context of perceived urgency surrounding humanitarian issues has added to the broader motivators for their return to aggressive military tactics, indicating their strategic use of warfare in the face of political pressures. The Houthis also engaged in an extensive campaign against international maritime activities that they associate with Israel since late 2023, launching numerous missile and drone strikes in efforts to disrupt shipping lanes within the region. Despite continuous retaliatory measures undertaken by US, UK, and Israeli forces against Houthi military sites, these measures have struggled to prevent the flow of attacks on naval traffic. The repercussions of this tit-for-tat violence reflect a complicated dynamic between international powers and regional factions in the Middle East, demonstrating challenges to achieving lasting peace and stability.