US Navy intercepts cruise missiles launched from Yemen

Quds-4 cruise missiles in the parade held by Ansar Allah in Sanaa on 21 September 2023. The group did not provide any information on the new variant's performance. (Saba News Agency)

The Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah, popularly known as the Houthis, may have cruise missiles capable of reaching Israel, US Department of Defense spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder indicated during a 19 October press briefing.

“The crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Carney , operating in the northern Red Sea earlier today, shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen,” he said.

“Information about these engagements is still being processed and we cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel,” he added.

Brig Gen Ryder hinted that air-defence assets in Saudi Arabia helped detect and/or track the missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) when he said, “This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defence architecture that we have built in the Middle East.” He declined to elaborate.

Ansar Allah has organised anti-Israeli protests in Yemen and circulated propaganda from other Iranian-backed militant groups but has yet to claim any attacks in the wake of the war that Hamas instigated on 7 October.