Houthis claim missile and drone strike on US carrier Carl Vinson

Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, announced it had carried out a military operation targeting the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its escort ships in the Arabian Sea. 

The announcement was made by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree in a statement to the Houthi-run Al Masirah television channel, per Caliber.Az.

According to Saree, the operation involved the launch of three cruise missiles and four unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) against the American naval group. The group did not specify whether the strike resulted in any damage or casualties, and as of now, the US Navy has not issued any response or confirmation regarding the alleged incident.

This latest claim follows a similar announcement from the Houthis earlier in the week. On April 28, the group reported having launched a “high-precision” missile and drone attack on the USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group. The Houthis claimed the attack led to the downing of an American fighter jet.

However, US officials provided a different account of events on the same day. A Navy spokesperson said that an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet had accidentally fallen overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman during routine operations. The aircraft was being towed to a hangar when the crew lost control, resulting in both the plane and the towing vehicle falling into the sea. No enemy action was mentioned in the Navy’s account.

In a related development, US forces launched airstrikes in mid-April against the Ras Issa oil port in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah province. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation was intended to disrupt Houthi access to fuel supplies and cut off their financial resources, which Washington claims are used to fund attacks in the region. CENTCOM emphasised that the strikes were part of efforts to enforce sanctions and prevent operations by a group the US has designated a terrorist organisation.

The airstrikes led to significant civilian casualties. Yemen’s Ministry of Health reported that 13 people were killed and 30 injured, while Houthi media claimed the death toll was at least 22. Fires broke out at the port following the bombing. Houthi leaders denounced the US attack as a war crime and vowed to retaliate.

These developments come amid increasing speculation that the United States is preparing for a prolonged military campaign against the Houthis. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration is considering an operation that could last up to six months, with a potential cost exceeding $1 billion. CNN separately reported that discussions have taken place around the possibility of a ground offensive from southern and eastern Yemen, potentially involving military support from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

By Tamilla Hasanova