The U.S. military early Thursday struck three radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on the Yemeni coast, in retaliation against failed missile attacks targeting an American ship operating in the region.
Early assessments show that the strikes knocked out the radar sites, which were involved in two attempted missile attacks threatening the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason and other U.S. warships operating in international waters off of the coast of Yemen, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement.
"The strikes–authorized by President Obama at the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Joseph Dunford–targeted radar sites involved in the recent missile launches threatening USS Mason and other vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb," Cook said in a statement.
U.S. officials told Reuters that the USS Nitze launched Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting the radar sites at approximately 4 a.m. local time.
#USNavy #USSNitze launches strike Oct. 13 against 3 coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory in #Yemen - https://t.co/ZTG1WmVQ9w pic.twitter.com/cHweOQpoe5
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) October 13, 2016
The Pentagon vowed to appropriately respond to "any further threat" to warships and commercial traffic in the region.
"These limited self-defense strikes were conducted to protect our personnel, our ships, and our freedom of navigation in this important maritime passageway," Cook said. "The United States will respond to any further threat to our ships and commercial traffic, as appropriate, and will continue to maintain our freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb, and elsewhere around the world."
The USS Mason was targeted twice by missiles launched from territory controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen this week, once on Sunday and again on Wednesday. The Pentagon had warned of possible U.S. military response following the strikes.
Neither attack, both of which involved two missiles, hit or damaged the ship. USNI News reported this week that, following the first failed attack, the crew aboard the USS Mason fired missiles in defense of the ship and the USS Ponce, which was also operating in the area. The USS Nitze was also nearby.
The Houthi military has denied responsibility for the attacks.