Posted on 01/10/2024 2:06:34 AM PST by Red Badger
U.S. destroyers shot down 24 drones and missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, constituting the largest attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since tensions escalated in October, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Tuesday.
The Department of Defense is operating a panoply of naval assets in the region as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a U.S.-led coalition to defend critical waterways from repeated threats by the Houthis. Three guided-missile destroyers, the USS Mason, USS Gravely and USS Laboon, and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier engaged the mix of drones and missiles fired Tuesday, CENTCOM said in a statement.
An initial assessment showed no damage or injuries to either the U.S. warships engaged in the firefight or any of the dozens of commercial vessels in the vicinity, according to CENTCOM.
The U.S. intercepted 18 Iranian-made one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile in a combined effort at around 9:15 p.m. local time, the statement added.
CENTCOM reiterated a Jan. 3 warning from the U.S. and partners against the Houthis launching further attacks. “The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways,” the statement said.
Over the weekend, the Laboon shot down a single explosive-laden drone in “self-defense,” CENTCOM said. It was the first time the military had characterized an engagement as taking place in self- defense, although it has said that previous one-way attack drones were inbound before the warships neutralized them.
Prior to Tuesday, the largest single onslaught took place on Dec. 16, when the USS Carney shot down 14 attack drones that came at the destroyer in a wave without any sign of commercial vessels nearby.
U.S. military assets in the Red Sea now include 130 aircraft and the vessels assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, carrying about 4,000 sailors and Marines, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said at a briefing Wednesday.
“As the president has made clear, the United States does not seek conflict with any nation or actor in the Middle East, nor do we want to see the war between Israel and Hamas widen in the region,” Kirby said. “But neither will we shrink from the task of defending ourselves, our interests, our partners, or the free flow of international commerce.”
Members of Congress have raised concerns in recent days over Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s unannounced hospitalization, during which top national security leaders and the president were unaware he had been hospitalized for at least three days. While Austin’s deputy performed some routine operational duties, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worried the apparent breakdown in chain of command could hinder the U.S.’ ability to respond to global tensions.
If these are the same missiles that Russia is using.... No wonder they’re losing.
Wonder how much each missle costs? Raytheon has got to be loving this .....
They need to Target the launch sites and the host of terrorism, Iran.
Wasting all that missle cash just to hammer drones is simply not cost effective.
Shouldn’t we be sending some ordinance. Back to them.
So will Biden figure out how to send Iran more money which will be used to improve the terrorist proxies?
Ballistic missile refers to its trajectory, not its guidance system.
I am assuming that the author is using the wrong term and actually means anti-ship missile, which has to be programmed before launch and generally uses radar to home in on its target.
Yes, I know. Must be a short time in flight, though.
“The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways,”
Idel threats from this administration, These Houthis and the Blowfish should have been tracked down and destroyed months ago.
I would have hoped that this sentiment would be unanimous on this website. I honestly think one would have to be retarded to disagree with it.
US Military = World Police
Damn.. based on that picture they’re shooting drone boats with a 50.. last resort I would think.
CWIS systems were upgraded to “block ib” variants which added surface protection vice just air threats only using that along with the SeaRAM would be far more effective than a 50.
Why aren’t we bombing the launch sites? No way we don’t know within a few meters the locations.
The U.S. has no legal or diplomatic justification to engage in military action to protect foreign commercial shipping in international waters. This whole mission has been a disaster from the start.
They aren’t.
They aren’t. Raytheon can’t get the chips needed to build replacement missiles. They’ve bitterly complained about that. It’s not that they don’t *want* to make a ton of money off it, it’s just that they *can’t*.
ASBMs are now a thing, and yes, they do work against a moving target.
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