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Editor’s note: This report was updated on April 26, 2024, at 7:10 a.m. Eastern Time.
Below is a running list of every instance where a U.S. Navy ship or jet has shot down a Houthi attack, and every instance where the United States and its allies have hit back at Houthi sites in Yemen, since October.
The list is based on incidents publicly confirmed and announced by U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, as well as reporting by Military Times and The Associated Press.
Send any feedback to: jonathan.lehrfeld@militarytimes.com.
U.S. destroyers are confirmed to have participated in at least the following number of incidents, according to CENTCOM:
- USS Thomas Hudner: 2
- USS Gravely: 5
- USS Mason: 9
- USS Laboon: 11
- USS Carney: 12
April 2024
April 25, 2024: The Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported. Later, U.S. forces destroyed a surface drone and an aerial drone in Yemen.
April 24, 2024: A coalition vessel engaged an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Yemen over the Gulf of Aden that CENTCOM said likely targeted the U.S. commercial ship M/V Yorktown. There were no injuries or damage reported. Later, U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones over Yemen.
Additionally, the Navy announced it is authorizing combat awards for sailors serving in the Red Sea area.
April 16, 2024: U.S. forces engaged two aerial drones in Yemen.
April 13-14, 2024: Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israel. U.S. forces and allies destroyed around 80 aerial drones and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen. That included a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven aerial drones on the ground in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Officials shared the 494th and the 335th fighter squadrons participated in defending against the attack. The Washington Post reported that officials shared the squadrons used F-15E Strike Eagles to take down drones.
Officials also said the Navy destroyers Carney and Arleigh Burke shot down multiple ballistic missiles in the attack and that U.S. troops manning a Patriot missile defense system in Irbil, Iraq, took down another weapon.
CENTCOM also said during this time the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile toward the Gulf of Aden from Yemen and that U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones in Yemen.
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April 11, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile over the Red Sea.
April 10, 2024: U.S. forces engaged three aerial drones, including two launched over the Gulf of Aden and one over the Red Sea. Later, U.S. forces destroyed eight aerial drones in Yemen.
April 9, 2024: The Navy destroyer Mason destroyed an inbound anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden that CENTCOM said likely targeted the U.S. commercial ship M/V Yorktown. The merchant ship was being escorted by the Mason and the Navy destroyer Laboon. There were no injuries or damage reported.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason and USS Laboon.
April 8, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Yemen and an aerial drone over the Red Sea.
April 7, 2024: The Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile toward the Gulf of Aden where a coalition ship was escorting M/V Hope Island, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.K.-owned, Italian-operated cargo ship. There were no injuries or damage reported.
April 6, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed a mobile surface-to air missile system in Yemen and an aerial drone over the Red Sea. A coalition vessel also destroyed an inbound anti-ship missile.
April 4, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed an anti-ship missile.
April 3, 2024: The Navy destroyer Gravely and U.S. forces destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile and two aerial drones launched by Houthis toward the U.S. ship in the Red Sea. U.S. forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Gravely.
April 1, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed a surface drone.
MARCH 2024
March 30, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed two aerial drones, including one over the Red Sea and another on the ground in Yemen that was prepared to launch.
March 28, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones over the Red Sea launched by the Houthis in Yemen, which were aimed at a U.S. warship and a coalition vessel.
March 27, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones over the Red Sea launched by the Houthis in Yemen, which were aimed at a U.S. warship.
March 23, 2024: The Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea near the M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned and -operated oil tanker. CENTCOM said a fifth ballistic missile was fired toward the ship and that it suffered minimal damage. A fire was quickly extinguished and no casualties were reported.
Also, the Navy destroyer Carney and other U.S. forces engaged six aerial drones over the southern Red Sea, five of which crashed into the water and one of which flew inland to Yemen.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
March 22, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones and struck three underground storage facilities in Yemen. Meanwhile, the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the Red Sea, but there were no injuries or damage reported.
March 21, 2024: A coalition aircraft destroyed a surface drone and coalition forces destroyed two anti-ship ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
March 20, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed one surface drone and a coalition aircraft destroyed one aerial drone.
March 18, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed seven anti-ship missiles, three aerial drones and three weapons storage containers in Yemen.
March 16, 2024: The Houthis launched two aerial drones from Yemen toward the Red Sea, one of which U.S. forces destroyed while the other CENTCOM said presumably crashed into the water. Later, U.S. forces destroyed five surface drones and one aerial drone in Yemen.
March 15, 2024: The Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the Red Sea, but there were no injuries or damage reported.
March 14-15, 2024: The Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden and another two toward the Red Sea, but there were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. U.S. forces also destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two aerial drones in Yemen.
March 13, 2024: The Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, but it did not hit any ships and there were no injuries or damage reported. U.S. forces then destroyed four aerial drones and one surface-to-air missile in Yemen.
March 12, 2024: The Houthis fired a close-range ballistic missile from Yemen toward the Navy destroyer Laboon in the Red Sea, but it did not hit the ship and there were no injuries or damage reported. U.S. forces and a coalition vessel then destroyed two aerial drones launched from Yemen.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon.
March 11, 2024: The Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the merchant vessel Pinocchio in the Red Sea, but they did not hit the Singaporean-owned, Liberian-flagged ship.
Later, U.S. forces struck an underwater drone and 18 anti-ship missiles in Yemen.
March 9, 2024: U.S Navy vessels and aircraft, along with multiple coalition navy ships and aircraft, shot down 28 Houthi air attack drones launched into the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
March 8, 2024: U.S. forces struck two truck-mounted anti-ship missiles in Yemen. Later, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V Propel Fortune, a Singapore-flagged vessel, which did not hit the ship.
March 7, 2024: CENTCOM forces took out four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and a Houthi air attack drone in Yemen.
U.S. forces also shot down three air attack drones launched by the Houthis toward the Gulf of Aden.
The day’s events took place over less than two hours, according to CENTCOM.
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March 6, 2024: The Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen at a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members. The incident marked the first fatal strike by the Houthis in their campaign of assaults. The attack against the M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier also injured at least four other crew members, with three in critical condition.
Later, U.S. forces struck two aerial drones in Yemen that CENTCOM said presented an imminent threat to ships in the region.
March 5, 2024: The Navy destroyer Carney shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile and three aerial drones in the Red Sea launched at it by the Houthis in Yemen.
Later, U.S. forces destroyed three anti-ship missiles and three surface drones.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
March 4, 2024: The Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the southern Red Sea but it hit the water and did not cause any damage or injuries. Later, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V MSC SKY II, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container vessel. One of the missiles hit the vessel and caused damage.
U.S. forces later struck two anti-ship cruise missiles that CENTCOM said presented a threat to ships in the region.
March 2, 2024: The M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, U.K.-owned bulk carrier sank in the Red Sea after being struck by the Houthis on Feb. 18. CENTCOM said the fertilizer the vessel was carrying presents “an environmental risk” in the Red Sea and that the sunken ship presents a “subsurface impact risk” to other vessels transiting the shipping lanes of the waterway.
The Italian Defense Ministry said its destroyer Caio Duilio shot down a suspected Houthi drone in the Red Sea that appeared to be flying toward it.
March 1, 2024: U.S. forces struck one Houthi surface-to-air missile that was prepared to launch from Yemen toward the Red Sea. Later, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Red Sea, but there was no impact or damage to any vessels.
FEBRUARY 2024
Feb. 29, 2024: U.S. forces shot down an aerial drone over the southern Red Sea. Later, CENTCOM said forces struck six mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.
Feb. 27, 2024: U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down five Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea.
The German frigate Hessen engaged two hostile drones. It also mistakenly fired twice at and missed an American MQ-9 drone.
Feb. 26, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed three unmanned surface vessels and two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea. CENTCOM said they also destroyed a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle over the Red Sea.
Feb. 24, 2024: The Navy destroyer Mason shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile launched into the Gulf of Aden from Yemen by the Houthis. CENTCOM said it likely targeted the American tanker M/V Torm Thor.
U.S. forces then shot down two one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles over the southern Red Sea, while a third crashed from an assessed in-flight failure.
Later, the Houthis again tried to likely target the M/V Torm Thor with anti-ship ballistic missile in Gulf of Aden but it instead hit the water.
Shortly after, U.S. and U.K. forces — with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand — struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen. The targets included Houthi storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars and a helicopter.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
Feb. 23, 2024: U.S. forces shot down three Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles near several commercial ships operating in the Red Sea.
Later, U.S. forces destroyed seven Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.
Feb. 22, 2024: U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down six Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, which CENTCOM said likely targeted U.S. and coalition warships. Later, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missiles hit the M/V Islander, a Palau-flagged, U.K.-owned cargo carrier. It caused one minor injury and damage.
The French military separately said it shot down two Houthi drones in the southern part of the Red Sea.
Later, U.S. forces struck four Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
Feb. 21, 2024: U.S. forces struck seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile launcher that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea. CENTCOM forces also shot down a one-way attack unmanned aircraft system.
Feb. 19-20, 2024: U.S. and coalition aircraft and warships shot down 10 one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Navy destroyer Laboon also identified one anti-ship cruise missile headed in its direction, which it subsequently shot down.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon.
Feb. 19, 2024: The Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the M/V Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned grain carrier, in the Gulf of Aden. Minor damage, but no injuries were reported. U.S. forces then destroyed a surface-to-air missile launcher in Yemen. CENTCOM also reported an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched but that it did not impact any commercial or coalition ships.
Later, a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle struck the M/V Navis Fortuna, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier. It caused minor damage and no injuries. U.S. forces then destroyed another aerial drone in Yemen prepared to launch at ships in the Red Sea.
Also, the Department of Defense acknowledged that on this day an American MQ-9 Reaper drone went down in the Red Sea off the coast of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, adding that initial indications showed it was shot down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile.
Feb. 18, 2024: The Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, U.K.-owned bulk carrier. One of the missiles struck the vessel and caused damage.
Feb. 17, 2024: U.S. forces struck three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned surface vessel and one unmanned underwater vessel in Yemen, marking what CENTCOM said was the first observed Houthi employment of an underwater drone since the attacks began in October 2023.
Feb. 16-17, 2024: U.S. forces struck one mobile anti-ship cruise missile and one mobile unmanned surface vessel in Yemen. Also, the Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea, three of which were assessed to be launched toward the commercial vessel M/T Pollux, a Panamanian-flagged and -registered, Denmark-owned vessel. There were no reported injuries or damage.
Feb. 15, 2024: U.S. forces struck three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. Also, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden toward the M/V Lycavitos, a Barbados-flagged, U.K.-owned and -operated bulk carrier. The ship reported no injuries but very minor damage in the attack and continued its voyage.
Feb. 14, 2024: U.S. forces struck seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles and one explosive unmanned surface vessel in Yemen that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
Feb. 13, 2024: U.S. forces struck one mobile anti-ship cruise missile in Yemen that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. Later, one anti-ship ballistic missile was launched by the Houthis in Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Navy ships tracked the missile but took no action because the missile was not projected to impact near any ships.
Feb. 12, 2024: Houthi militants fired two missiles from Yemen toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Both missiles launched toward the M/V Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea with corn from Brazil. The ship, which was bound for Iran, reported being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew.
Feb. 10, 2024: U.S. forces struck two unmanned surface vessels and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. CENTCOM did not disclose which U.S. assets were involved in these strikes.
Feb. 9, 2024: U.S. forces struck two mobile unmanned surface drones, four mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile land attack cruise missile that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. CENTCOM did not disclose which U.S. assets were involved in these strikes.
Feb. 8, 2024: U.S. forces conducted seven strikes against four Houthi unmanned surface drones and seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
Feb. 7, 2024: CENTCOM forces conducted “self-defense” strikes against two Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen that were set to launch. Later, CENTCOM forces conducted another strike against a Houthi mobile land attack cruise missile prepared to launch. CENTCOM did not disclose which U.S. assets were involved in these strikes.
Feb. 6, 2024: Houthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Navy destroyer Laboon shot down one of the anti-ship ballistic missiles that was attempting to hit the M/V Star Nasia, a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned and -operated bulk carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden.
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Other missiles targeted a Barbados-flagged, U.K.-owned cargo ship, M/V Morning Tide that was operating in the southern Red Sea, but they did not strike the ship.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon.
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Feb. 5, 2024: CENTCOM conducted a strike in self-defense against two Houthi
drones carrying explosives.
Feb. 4, 2024: CENTCOM conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile in Yemen, as well as a strike against a Houthi land attack cruise missile. Later, U.S. forces struck four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch.
Feb. 3, 2024: CENTCOM conducted strikes against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. Later, U.S. and allied forces conducted strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
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Feb. 2, 2024: The Navy destroyer Carney engaged and shot down an aerial drone over the Gulf of Aden. Later, CENTCOM conducted strikes against four Houthi attack drones in Yemen that were prepared to launch. That same day, the Navy destroyer Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornet jets from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group engaged and shot down seven drones over the Red Sea.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney, USS Laboon and F/A-18s from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.
Feb. 1, 2024: CENTCOM conducted strikes against 10 Houthi attack drones and a drone ground control station in Yemen. The same day, U.S. forces engaged and shot down another drone over the Gulf of Aden. U.S. forces also destroyed an explosive-laden Houthi surface drone in the Red Sea. Later, two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi areas in Yemen toward the M/V Koi in the Red Sea, a Liberian-flagged, Bermuda-owned cargo ship.
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JANUARY 2024
Jan. 31, 2024: The Navy destroyer Carney shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden. Later in the day, the Carney engaged and shot down three Iranian air drones in its vicinity.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
Jan. 31, 2024: U.S. forces destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile prepared to launch from Yemen.
Jan. 30, 2024: The Navy destroyer Gravely shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired over the Red Sea. It got within a nautical mile of the Navy destroyer Gravely. The warship used its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System to take the missile out, a defense official later confirmed.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Gravely.
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Jan. 28, 2024: The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr. seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea.
Jan. 27, 2024: The British warship HMS Diamond shot down a Houthi drone in the Red Sea, using its Sea Viper missile system.
Jan. 27, 2024: U.S. forces struck a Houthi anti-ship missile in Yemen that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch.
Jan. 26, 2024: Houthis fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden. Following the missile strike, a major fire ensued in one of the cargo holds, but no injuries were reported. The Navy destroyer Carney, the French Navy frigate FS Alsace and Indian Navy frigate INS Visakhapatnam all responded and the ship remained seaworthy.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
Jan. 26, 2024: Houthis launched a missile at the Navy destroyer Carney while it patrolled the Gulf of Aden, and the warship shot it down. It was believed to be the first direct attack on a U.S. Navy ship since hostilities broke out in October.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
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Jan. 24, 2024: Two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. defense and state departments came under attack by the Houthis. One missile landed in the Gulf of Aden, while two others were successfully engaged and shot down by the Navy destroyer Gravely.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Gravely.
Earlier that day, U.S. forces struck two Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch.
Jan. 22, 2024: U.S. and allied forces struck eight Houthi targets in Yemen. The U.S. and U.K. used warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets to take out Houthi missile storage sites and launchers.
Jan. 20, 2024: U.S. forces struck a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch.
Jan. 19, 2024: U.S. forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. The strikes were carried out by F/A-18 Super Hornets off the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: F/A-18 aircraft off the Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
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Jan. 18, 2024: U.S. forces struck two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. The strikes were carried out by F/A-18 Super Hornets. Later, Houthi militants launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned, Greek-operated tanker ship. The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship and there were no reported injuries or damage to the ship.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets.
Jan. 17, 2024: A one-way attack drone was launched from Yemen and struck the M/V Genco Picardy, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and -operated bulk carrier ship, in the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries and some damage reported. Later, U.S. forces conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded and ready to fire in Yemen.
The strikes followed the official announcement that the U.S. put the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.
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Jan. 16, 2024: U.S. forces struck and destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared to launch from Yemen. Later, Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea. M/V Zografia, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier, reported it was struck but seaworthy and continuing its transit. There were no reported injuries.
Jan. 15, 2024: U.S. forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the southern Red Sea’s commercial shipping lanes. The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. Later, Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and -operated container ship. The ship reported no injuries or significant damage.
Jan. 14, 2024: Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen toward the Navy destroyer Laboon, which was operating in the southern Red Sea. The missile was shot down off the coast of Yemen by U.S. fighter jets.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon; fighter jets.
Jan. 13, 2024: The Navy destroyer Carney struck a Houthi radar site in Yemen using Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
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Jan. 11, 2024: Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden.
Shortly after, the U.S. and British militaries bombed scores of sites used by the Houthis in Yemen, a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets. Support came from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain. The U.S. Air Force’s Mideast command said it struck more than 60 targets at 16 sites, including “command-and-control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems.” The strikes marked the first U.S. military response against the Houthis in Yemen for the persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the war in Israel.
Jan. 9, 2024: Houthi rebels launched a “complex attack” of drones and missiles targeting ships in the Red Sea. F/A-18 Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, the destroyers Gravely, Mason and Laboon and the British warship HMS Diamond downed 18 drones, two cruise missiles and an anti-ship missile.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: F/A-18 Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Gravely, USS Laboon and USS Mason.
Jan. 6, 2024: The Navy destroyer Laboon shot down in self-defense an air drone over the Red Sea fired by Houthis in Yemen.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon.
Jan. 2, 2024: Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen into the southern Red Sea.
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DECEMBER 2023
Dec. 30–31, 2023: The Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and -operated container ship Maersk Hangzhou reported it was struck by a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea. The Navy destroyers Gravely and Laboon responded, and while responding, the Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen toward the ships.
Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but U.S. forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews. U.S. helicopters from the Eisenhower and Gravely responded. The small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew-served weapons and small arms. The Navy helicopters returned fire, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Gravely and USS Laboon; helicopters from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Dec. 28, 2023: The Navy destroyer Mason shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the southern Red Sea fired by the Houthis.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
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Dec. 26, 2023: The Navy destroyer Laboon and other U.S. forces shot down a dozen drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land attack missiles in the Red Sea over a 10-hour period.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon, F/A-18 Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Dec. 23, 2023: The Navy destroyer Laboon shot down four attack drones that were “inbound” to the warship in the Red Sea. After shooting down the drones, the Laboon responded to distress calls after two commercial vessels came under attack.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Laboon.
Dec. 18, 2023: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new initiative between the U.S. and a host of other nations to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that come under attack by the Houthis.
Dec. 18, 2023: A chemical/oil tanker motor vessel, the Cayman Islands-flagged Swan Atlantic, was attacked by a one-way attack drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Yemen. It reported being hit and requested assistance. The Navy destroyer Carney responded.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
Dec. 16, 2023: The Navy destroyer Carney, operating in the Red Sea, took out a swarm of 14 air attack drones launched from Yemen.
- U.S. ships & assets involved: USS Carney.
Dec. 15, 2023: A drone launched from Yemen struck the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel AL JASRAH as it was traveling south in the Red Sea, which caused a fire that was later extinguished. Later, Houthi forces launched two ballistic missiles toward the international shipping lanes in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. One of these struck the Liberian-flagged M/V PALATIUM 3, which reported that it was on fire. The Navy destroyer Mason responded and rendered assistance.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
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Dec. 14, 2023: A ballistic missile was fired from Yemen toward the international shipping lane north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Dec. 13, 2023: In the southern Red Sea, the Navy destroyer Mason responded to a mayday call from the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Motor Vessel Ardmore Encounter, which was under attack from Houthi forces. While responding to the distress call, the Mason shot down a drone.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
Dec. 11, 2023: The Navy destroyer Mason came to the aid of a commercial ship, the Motor Tanker Strinda, that was struck by a cruise missile in the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
Dec. 9, 2023: The French navy announced the frigate Languedoc shot down two Houthi drones in the Red Sea that were launched from Yemen.
Dec. 6, 2023: The Navy destroyer Mason shot down an air drone that was launched from Yemen.
- U.S. ships & assets involved: USS Mason.
Dec. 3, 2023: The Navy destroyer Carney shot down multiple air drones during an hours-long drone and missile assault against commercial ships by Houthis in the Red Sea.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
NOVEMBER 2023
Nov. 29, 2023: The Navy destroyer Carney, sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, shot down a drone launched from Yemen.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
Nov 26–27, 2023: The Navy destroyer Mason, with allied ships and associated aircraft from a coalition counter-piracy task force, responded to a distress call from the commercial vessel M/V Central Park that it was under attack by an unknown entity. Later, two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen were launched in the direction of the Mason and Central Park, but the missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Mason.
Nov. 23, 2023: The Navy destroyer Thomas Hudner shot down “multiple one-way attack drones” while operating in the Red Sea.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Thomas Hudner.
Nov. 19, 2023: Houthi rebels seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea and took its 25 crew members hostage, officials said. The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of the Treasury later referenced the incident.
Nov. 15, 2023: The Navy destroyer Thomas Hudner shot down an air drone in the Red Sea.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Thomas Hudner.
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OCTOBER 2023
Oct. 19, 2023: The Navy destroyer Carney, in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action by the Carney is believed to signal the first shots fired by the U.S. military in the wake of the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
- Confirmed U.S. assets involved: USS Carney.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
Geoff is the editor of Navy Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.
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