For the first time, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at a U.S. F-16 fighter jet, three senior U.S. defense officials confirmed to Fox News. The incident took place on February 19, while the fighter jet was flying over the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. Although the missile was fired, it failed to hit its intended target, according to the officials.
On the same day, the Houthis also targeted an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, which was operating over Yemen, outside of areas controlled by the Houthis. According to the senior U.S. defense officials, this marks the first time the Houthis have attempted to target a U.S. F-16 fighter jet with a SAM, signaling a significant escalation in their ongoing confrontations with the U.S. Navy and Air Force.
Since October 2023, the Houthi rebels have increased their attacks in the region, including launching drones towards Israel and targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea in support of Gazan factions. In response to the rising number of Houthi attacks, the U.S. formed a coalition under the Biden administration, consisting of more than 20 countries, to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi threats.
The coalition has consistently targeted Houthi facilities and weapons systems in Yemen, but the Houthis have remained undeterred by these strikes, pledging to continue their offensive actions. According to Fox News, a high-level debate is ongoing within the U.S. military about the most effective strategy to counter the Houthis. Under the Trump administration, the group was designated a terror organization by the State Department.
The current discussion focuses on whether to adopt a more conventional counterterrorism strategy, which would involve consistent strikes against those planning and executing attacks, or to keep concentrating on disrupting Houthi infrastructure and weapons storage, the report noted.
{Matzav.com}