CNN —
According to a US official familiar with the situation, a US warship intercepted 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of 9 hours near the coast of Yemen on Thursday.
The USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, intercepted the missiles and drones as they were heading north along the Red Sea. The official assessment is that the projectiles were headed for Israel, indicating a potential escalation of the conflict beyond the Gaza enclave.
The sustained barrage of drones and missiles from outside the Gaza conflict raises concerns about the war expanding beyond the coastal enclave.
In addition to protests at US embassies across the Middle East, US and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq have recently faced repeated attacks.
According to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The USS Carney intercepted three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones.
The intercepted drones and missiles posed a potential risk to commercial aviation due to their altitudes. The SM-2 surface-to-air missiles launched from the USS Carney successfully intercepted them.
Intercepting Houthi launches is uncommon for the US, making this incident particularly significant amid rising tensions in Israel. In the past, the US has used countermeasures and sea-launched cruise missiles to protect its forces from Houthi attacks.
Recent attacks in Iraq and Syria targeted US positions and the At-Tanf garrison, causing minor injuries. Furthermore, rockets were aimed at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center near the airport, but no injuries were reported.
The US has not yet attributed the recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, despite similarities to past drone and rocket attacks carried out by Iranian proxies.
In response to previous attacks, the US military has conducted strikes on Iranian-backed militias. However, the Pentagon has not disclosed its intentions in light of recent events.
According to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, any potential response to the attacks will be carried out at the discretion of the US and coalition forces.
