Houthi militants in Yemen have once again claimed to have launched an attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. According to their spokesperson, Yahya Saree, this marks the second attempt in less than a week, following a prior claim on December 31. At that time, the U.S. military acknowledged ongoing operations against Houthi targets, including command centers, weapons storage, and radar facilities.
In a statement, Saree asserted that “two cruise missiles and four drones” were deployed in the northern Red Sea as the carrier prepared for a “major aerial attack” on Yemen. He further alleged that the operation “led to the failure of the attack.”
U.S. Forces Focus on ISIS
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not commented directly on the Houthi claims. Instead, their updates highlight efforts against ISIS. Between December 30, 2024, and January 6, 2025, U.S. and coalition forces conducted multiple raids in Iraq and Syria. One operation reportedly resulted in the capture of an ISIS attack cell leader in Syria.
Escalating Houthi Attacks
While the Houthis have increasingly targeted U.S. naval assets, their focus in recent weeks has been on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes. The Israeli government has vowed to intensify operations to deter further missile and drone launches.
In addition to the two claimed strikes on Truman, the Houthis reported in late December that they downed at least two U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones.
USS Harry S. Truman in the Region
The USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group arrived in the Red Sea on December 14, 2024, as part of a scheduled deployment that began on September 23 from Naval Station Norfolk. The group includes the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham.
Tensions have run high since their arrival, with the Houthis targeting U.S. warships. Shortly after the carrier’s deployment to the region, two incidents involving friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg were reported. An F/A-18 tanker was mistakenly shot down, and a second aircraft narrowly avoided the same fate while attempting to land on Truman.
