Newly released photos show the dramatic moment a US Navy warship shot down multiple drones and missiles during a nine hour onslaught near the Yemeni coast.
The USS Carney was stationed in the Northern Red Sea on Thursday when it intercepted 15 drones and four cruise missiles which were fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
Images from onboard the vessel show the launch of RIM-66M surface-to-air missiles to destroy the devices which were ‘headed for Israel’.
It shows fiery explosions mid-air as well as several military service members in the control room of the warship. No injuries were reported onboard or on land among civilians.
The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
Newly released photos show the dramatic moment a US Navy warship shot down multiple drones and missiles during a nine hour onslaught near the Yemeni coast
Images show the launch of RIM-66M surface-to-air missiles to destroy 15 drones and four cruise missiles which were fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen and ‘headed for Israel’
The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East
Pictures show the USS Carney’s close-in weapon system pointing towards a target which has been struck and a fiery cloud is seen in the background.
A second image highlights another missile which has been successfully shot in the air with a view of the side of the warship.
Military personnel are seen concentrating on computer screens in the control room as they intercept the drones and missiles.
An official from the Defense Department said the drones and cruise missiles were shot down using SM-2 surface-to-air missiles.
The source added that the rockets fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militants were clearly headed for Israel.
While a US official added that they do not believe the missiles, shot down over the water, were aimed at the US warship.
The Houthi terrorist group in Yemen has signaled its intention to join the war against Israel.
Military personnel are seen concentrating on computer screens in the control room as they intercept the drones and missiles
An official from the Defense Department said drones and cruise missiles were shot down using SM-2 surface-to-air missiles. No injuries were reported onboard or on land among civilians
The estimated area where the USS Carney intercepted the drones and missiles on Thursday
The Al Tanf Garrison military base in Syria, where there are American troops present, was targeted by two drones on Wednesday.
One was destroyed while the other impacted the base following joint action by US and coalition forces.
Another attack was reported at the Conoco airfield. Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed group, has claimed credit for the attempted strike against the Conoco base, but US officials are yet to confirm that specific strike.
On Tuesday, troops at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq intercepted three drones. To the north, troops the Al-Harir Air Base intercepted another two.
On Wednesday, a contractor at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq died of a heart attack while sheltering amid reports of an incoming attack.
There were minor injuries at the al-Asad base, where troops were only able to intercept one of the drones and damage the other. The extent of those injuries is unclear.
A US official said they do not believe the missiles, shot down over the water, were aimed at USS Carney
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an attack took place on Wednesday against US forces at Al-Tanf base, near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan
It also remains unclear whether the strikes against the al-Tanf airbase resulted in any damage or injuries.
The strikes come amid increased tension in the Middle East over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which many now view as a conflict between the West and the Arab world.
President Biden has been steadfast in his support of Israel since Hamas attacked on October 7, supplying military aid and flying to the region in a show of strong alliance.
His visit and ongoing support of Israel whipped up anti-American protesters in Lebanon, where crowds laid siege to the US Embassy in Beirut yesterday.
The State Department has now issued a rare worldwide caution travel advisory for Americans traveling overseas, citing the potential for terror attacks and ‘increased tensions’ as reason to be on high alert.