Houthi Rebels Unleash Barrage on USS Harry S. Truman: Red Sea Tensions Explode
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, launched a dramatic assault on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, firing 18 ballistic and cruise missiles along with a drone in the Red Sea.
The attack escalates the ongoing Red Sea crisis, rooted in Houthi solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict, prompting a robust U.S. military response and raising fears of broader regional instability.
In a shocking escalation of hostilities in the Red Sea, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a Shiite militant group supported by Iran, have launched a bold and unprecedented attack on the USS Harry S. Truman, a formidable U.S. aircraft carrier. On March 16, 2025, the Houthis fired an arsenal of 18 ballistic and cruise missiles, accompanied by a drone, targeting the naval giant in a direct challenge to American military presence in the region. This brazen assault marks a significant intensification of the ongoing Red Sea crisis, which has gripped international attention since late 2023.
The attack follows a series of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi positions in retaliation for their persistent assaults on commercial shipping lanes and naval vessels. The Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen and have been locked in a decade-long civil war against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, have framed their actions as acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Since October 2023, the group has disrupted global trade by targeting ships in the Red Sea, particularly those perceived to have ties to Israel, creating a chokehold on one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Visual evidence of the confrontation underscores its gravity: images of a Houthi military commander, adorned in a distinctive red beret and adorned with insignia, symbolize the group’s resolve, while photographs of the USS Harry S. Truman cutting through the calm waters of the Red Sea highlight the U.S. Navy’s formidable presence. The Houthis’ declaration that all warships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea are now “legitimate targets” for their missile forces signals a dangerous new phase in this conflict, raising the specter of a broader military confrontation.
The U.S. response has been swift and decisive, with American forces intercepting numerous Houthi drones and missiles aimed at the Truman strike group, according to military officials. However, the Houthis’ ability to sustain such an attack—claiming to have struck the carrier with precision—demonstrates their growing arsenal, reportedly supplied by Iran, and their willingness to confront a superpower head-on. This incident comes on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warnings to Iran, the Houthis’ primary backer, to cease support for the group or face severe consequences, further heightening tensions in an already volatile region.
The Red Sea crisis, now in its third year, has far-reaching implications for global trade, regional stability, and U.S.-Iran relations. The Houthis’ actions have disrupted shipping through the Suez Canal, costing the global economy billions, while drawing retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and its allies, including the United Kingdom. The Yemeni civil war, intertwined with this maritime conflict, has already displaced millions and pushed the country to the brink of famine, making the latest escalation a humanitarian as well as a strategic concern.
As diplomatic efforts struggle to keep pace with the rapid military developments, the international community watches anxiously. The Houthis’ latest move could provoke a sustained U.S. military campaign in Yemen, potentially drawing in other regional players like Saudi Arabia and Iran, and further destabilizing the Middle East. With the USS Harry S. Truman standing as a symbol of American naval might, and the Houthis doubling down on their defiance, the Red Sea has become a flashpoint for a conflict that threatens to spiral out of control.