The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) launched a significant military operation targeting the United States Navy Carrier Strike Group 8, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, in the Red Sea.

The hours-long assault began on Tuesday—coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Yemen’s resistance against Saudi-led aggression—and extended into the early hours of Wednesday.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the YAF spokesperson, announced that multiple branches of the Yemeni forces engaged U.S. naval vessels in response to ongoing American military actions against Yemen. The USS Harry S. Truman, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8, has been a primary platform for U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, which have struck civilian targets, including residential areas and a cancer hospital. Saree reported that clashes with U.S. forces continued until at least 4:40 a.m. local time, underscoring Yemen’s determination to counter evolving threats on the battlefield.

In retaliation, U.S. aircraft conducted at least 17 airstrikes on Yemen’s northern Saada governorate, according to the Yemen News Agency (SABA). The strikes mark a further escalation in the U.S.-Yemen conflict amid heightened regional tensions.

In a related development, Saree disclosed that the YAF’s Unmanned Air Force deployed long-range attack drones targeting Israeli military sites in occupied Palestine earlier this week. This operation follows a series of Yemeni missile strikes on Israeli targets, reflecting Yemen’s solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing war and blockade there.

Saree reiterated Yemen’s resolve to confront U.S.-led aggression and warned that Sanaa would respond decisively to any further escalation. He also reaffirmed the YAF’s blockade on Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, vowing to continue striking Israeli targets until the Gaza conflict ends and the siege is lifted. In a powerful closing statement, Saree urged “all free people of our nation” to act to stop the “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.

The operation underscores Yemen’s growing military assertiveness as it navigates simultaneous confrontations with the U.S., Israel, and their allies, while marking a decade of resistance against foreign aggression. (ILKHA)