Sunday, September 29, 2024

Meanwhile, In The Red Sea

On Septemebr 27, US Naval forces in the area came under attack from a "complex"  attack from the Houthis.

Stars and Stripes:  Navy ships shoot down ‘complex’ barrage of Houthi missiles and drones in Red Sea, Pentagon says

Navy ships intercepted a Houthi barrage of missiles and drones launched from Yemen at the shipping lanes of the Red Sea, the Pentagon confirmed Friday, while also denying reports that any ships were hit in the attack.

“We did see a complex attack launched from the Houthis that ranged from cruise missiles and [unmanned aerial vehicles],” said Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary for the Defense Department.

The Iran-backed Houthi claimed Friday to have damaged three U.S. Navy warships in a bombardment of 23 missiles and bomber drones. The Navy destroyers, the Houthis’ military spokesperson said in a televised speech, were targeted as they transited the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen.

Sure would be nice if instead of passively and simply absorbing attacks (with rather spendy anti-missile missiles, not to mention the risk of an enemy weapon getting through and killing or injuring Americans), the rules of engagement were changed to allow the US Navy to proactively engage the launchersand those firing them before the weapons were fired at the ships.  

I daresay some renewed deterrence and an application of Finding Out to the Houthis of the consequences of flinging missiles and drones at the US Navy would be most appropriate at this time and is long overdue.

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