In a dangerous escalation of hostilities in the Red Sea region, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a cruise missile at a US Navy destroyer on Sunday, January 15, 2024. The missile was successfully intercepted by US fighter jets patrolling the area, averting damage to the warship or casualties. This provocative attack comes on the heels of US-led airstrikes on Houthi rebel radar installations in Yemen last week.
According to US Central Command officials, the cruise missile was fired at around 4:45 pm local time towards the USS Laboon, a US Navy guided missile destroyer that was sailing in the southern Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. Alert US fighter pilots patrolling the skies above detected the incoming missile and intercepted it before it could strike the warship. Neither the Laboon nor the fighter jets suffered any damage or injuries in the incident.
Central Command confirmed the missile interception on social media, calling it an “unprovoked attack.” The attempted strike appears to be in retaliation for US military action against the Houthis last Tuesday, January 10. US and British warplanes conducted a series of airstrikes on Houthi radar sites in Yemen which the rebels used to target commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. That operation was in response to the Houthis hijacking a UAE-flagged cargo ship on January 2.
Tensions between the Iran-backed Houthis and the US-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government have been rising steadily in recent weeks. The Houthis have increased attacks on coalition warships patrolling Red Sea shipping lanes. In turn, the US and allies have stepped up airstrikes on Houthi military assets. The Houthis vowed to retaliate for last week’s strikes, even threatening allied commercial ships in the region.
Sunday’s missile attack on the USS Laboon appears to make good on those threats and raises concerns that the conflict could rapidly escalate. The US Navy has deployed several destroyers like the Laboon to the Red Sea and nearby waters to deter Houthi aggression against international shipping. With these warships now in the crosshairs, the Biden administration faces difficult choices on how to respond.
Broader tensions with Iran also loom large over the situation. The Houthis are supported militarily by Tehran, and any clash between the rebels and US forces risks drawing in Iran. After years of hostilities under the Trump administration, Biden has sought to avoid a direct confrontation with Iran. But with its proxies attacking US troops, Tehran seems willing to test Biden’s resolve.
Oil markets were quick to react to the geopolitical tensions, with crude prices surging 4% on Monday in response to the attempted Houthi strike. The Red Sea is a critical shipping passage for Middle East oil and gas shipments to Europe. Any conflict that threatens traffic through the area could roil global energy markets. With oil already hovering near $80 a barrel, additional price spikes may be on the horizon.
As the US investigates how the Houthis acquired the cruise missile technology used in Sunday’s attack, the rebel group has vowed further retaliation for coalition airstrikes. With both sides ratcheting up military force, experts warn the conflict in Yemen may be entering a dangerous new phase. Unless cooler heads prevail, the whole region could be drawn into a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences.
