Pentagon 'shocked' by Houthi weapons stockpile

The arsenal the Houthis now possess has stunned the Pentagon, Axios reported on November 15. At a defense conference in Washington earlier this week, Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top arms buyer, said the group’s capabilities were “getting scary.”

The British-registered cargo ship Rubymar sank after an attack by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, March 3, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Houthis, who control Yemen's capital Sanaa and key areas in the northwest, have disrupted shipping in the Red Sea over the past year in an effort to pressure Israel over its war in Gaza.

“What the Houthis have done in the last six months has really shocked me,” said Mr. LaPlante, adding that the rebel group possesses increasingly sophisticated weapons, including missiles capable of “doing incredible things.”

On November 12, Houthi forces announced successful missile strikes on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, as well as attacks on two US destroyers in the Red Sea. These operations reportedly involved cruise missiles and drones.

The Pentagon announced that it had successfully intercepted drones and missiles launched by Houthi forces, affirming that no US warships suffered any damage. In addition, a US defense agency spokesman said he had no information about any attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the Houthis using their military advances to make political demands, such as an end to what they describe as “Israeli aggression” in Lebanon.

The US has accused Iran of supporting the Houthis, but Tehran has denied any involvement, insisting that the group operates independently.

Hoa Vu (Source: actualidad.rt.com)

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