US Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported two US Navy ships were targeted by Houthi militant drones in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group partly financed by Iran, have vowed to strike all ships in the Red Sea with any connection to Israel until Israel commits to a ceasefire with Hamas.
However, Houthi forces have also begun targeting American ships.
CENTCOM explained its forces destroyed a Houthi-launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea.
The reports of the latest Houthi attacks come hours after the US Military began constructing a floating pier off Gaza’s coast that will be used to transport humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The Pentagon has reportedly estimated the pier will cost American taxpayers at least $320 million.
Concerns over the safety of US personnel constructing the pier have some lawmakers demanding assurances from military officials.
During a House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin responded to inquiries about the possibility of a military confrontation with Hamas terrorists in the affirmative.
As reported by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01) asked Secretary Austin if it was a “likely scenario” that US military could be targeted from Gaza.
Austin responded it was “possible” for such a scenario to materialize.
Gaetz’s full exchange with Lloyd concluded with Gaetz claiming any decision for direct US military action should first be vetted by Congress.
According to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, construction of the Gaza pier will conclude in the coming days, with initial aid deliveries set to begin soon.
