Headline: US Warship Intercepts Drones and Missiles Targeting Israel
Date: [Insert date]
Byline: [Your Name]
The USS Carney, a US warship, encountered a larger and more sustained barrage of missiles and drones near the coast of Yemen than previously known, shooting down 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of 9 hours, according to a US official familiar with the situation.
The missiles and drones were intercepted by the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, as they were heading north along the Red Sea. The trajectory of the projectiles left little doubt that they were intended for Israel, providing a clearer assessment than the initial take from the Pentagon.
This sustained barrage targeting Israel from outside the Gaza conflict raises concerns about the escalation of the war beyond the borders of the coastal enclave. It is not just US embassies across the Middle East that have faced protests, but US and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq have also come under repeated attacks in recent days.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and were potentially heading towards targets in Israel. The US official revealed that some of the projectiles were at altitudes that posed a potential risk to commercial aviation.
The interception of Houthi launches by the US is rare, making the timing of this incident even more significant as tensions rise in Israel. This is not the first time the US military has encountered such attacks. In 2016, the USS Mason deployed countermeasures to stop an attempted attack in the Red Sea and responded by firing sea-launched cruise missiles at Houthi radar facilities in Yemen.
In addition to the attacks on US forces, there have also been recent drone and rocket attacks in Iraq and Syria. Early Friday morning, two rockets targeted the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center near the airport, which houses US military, diplomatic, and civilian personnel. Fortunately, no one was injured in the rocket attack.
These recent attacks in Iraq and Syria have not yet been attributed to any specific group, but Iranian proxies have carried out similar attacks in the past. The US military has previously responded to such attacks by striking Iranian-backed militias.
Although the Pentagon has not disclosed its intentions, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated, “While I’m not going to forecast any potential response to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat.”
As tensions continue to escalate, the situation remains fluid, and any potential response from the US will come at a time and manner of their choosing.