Pentagon 'shocked' by Houthi weapons stockpile

Axios reported on November 15th that the Houthi forces' current arsenal has stunned the Pentagon. At a defense conference in Washington earlier this week, Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon's top arms procurement officer, stated that the group's capabilities "are becoming frightening."

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

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

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

On November 12, Houthi forces claimed to have successfully launched missile attacks 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 it successfully intercepted drones and missiles launched by Houthi forces, asserting that US warships suffered no damage. Additionally, a spokesperson for the US defense agency stated that he had no information about any attacks targeting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

The incident occurred amid rising regional tensions. Houthi forces are leveraging their military advances to make political demands, such as ending what they describe as “Israeli aggression” in Lebanon.

The US has hinted that Iran is supporting the Houthi rebels, but Tehran denies any involvement, asserting that the group operates independently.

Hoa Vu (Source: actualidad.rt.com)

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