Pentagon ‘shocked’ by Extent of Houthi Weapons Cache, Reports Axios
A senior Pentagon official expressed his deep surprise regarding the weaponry possessed by the rebel group. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The Pentagon has been taken aback by the arsenal now held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to a report from Axios on Thursday. Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, expressed his concerns at a defense summit in Washington earlier this week, stating that the group’s capabilities “are getting scary.”
The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital of Sanaa along with significant regions in the northwest, have been interfering with shipping in the Red Sea for the past year as a means to exert pressure on Israel related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
LaPlante commented on the situation: “What I’ve seen of what the Houthis have done in the last six months is something that – I’m just shocked.” He noted that the rebels are now wielding increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including missiles that “can do things that are just amazing.”
On November 12, the Houthis declared a successful missile strike against the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, as well as attacks on two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea. These operations reportedly made use of cruise missiles and drones, with Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claiming they disrupted U.S. forces for eight hours.
In response, the Pentagon stated that the drones and missiles launched by the Houthis had been intercepted and confirmed that U.S. warships incurred no damage. A Pentagon spokesman further claimed he was unaware of any attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
This alleged attack coincides with a period of heightened tensions in the region. The Houthis are leveraging their military advancements to demand political concessions, including an end to what they term “Israeli aggression” in Lebanon.
The U.S. has accused Iran of providing support to the Houthis; however, Tehran has previously denied such involvement, asserting that the militant group operates independently.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital of Sanaa along with significant regions in the northwest, have been interfering with shipping in the Red Sea for the past year as a means to exert pressure on Israel related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
LaPlante commented on the situation: “What I’ve seen of what the Houthis have done in the last six months is something that – I’m just shocked.” He noted that the rebels are now wielding increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including missiles that “can do things that are just amazing.”
On November 12, the Houthis declared a successful missile strike against the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, as well as attacks on two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea. These operations reportedly made use of cruise missiles and drones, with Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claiming they disrupted U.S. forces for eight hours.
In response, the Pentagon stated that the drones and missiles launched by the Houthis had been intercepted and confirmed that U.S. warships incurred no damage. A Pentagon spokesman further claimed he was unaware of any attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
This alleged attack coincides with a period of heightened tensions in the region. The Houthis are leveraging their military advancements to demand political concessions, including an end to what they term “Israeli aggression” in Lebanon.
The U.S. has accused Iran of providing support to the Houthis; however, Tehran has previously denied such involvement, asserting that the militant group operates independently.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
