In the Red Sea, a report published by the United States Military Academy has revealed that a ballistic anti-ship missile (ASBM) launched by Houthi fighters narrowly missed the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The missile detonated approximately 200 meters from the carrier, marking a significant development in the Houthis’ ongoing attempts to disrupt U.S. and allied naval operations in the region.
The incident, highlighted in the October issue of CTC Sentinel, the monthly journal of the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy, underscores the growing threat posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement. Although the missile failed to strike its target, its proximity to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has raised serious concerns about the capabilities of Houthi forces and the broader geopolitical implications of their actions.
The article from CTC Sentinel describes the incident as a “milestone” in the Houthis’ military prowess, noting that their use of advanced ASBMs has reached new levels of sophistication. According to intelligence sources from the United States and the United Kingdom, the missile launch represented a substantial improvement in the group’s strike capabilities, particularly with respect to their ability to evade interception by modern naval defenses.
“According to available information, the missile, launched by the Houthis, evaded interception and detonated approximately 200 meters from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower,” the CTC Sentinel article stated. Though the missile did not cause any physical damage to the vessel, the close call has triggered alarm within military circles, particularly given the strategic importance of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its role in the U.S. Navy’s power projection in the Middle East.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of the U.S. Navy’s premier aircraft carriers, operated in the Red Sea from November 2023 until June 2024. During this period, the vessel was heavily involved in supporting regional stability amid growing tensions in the Middle East. Its deployment came at a time when the Red Sea was becoming increasingly militarized, with both Iranian and Houthi forces challenging U.S. and allied interests in the region.
Houthi fighters first claimed responsibility for targeting the carrier in May 2024. While these claims were initially dismissed by senior U.S. military officials as unsubstantiated rumors, the CTC Sentinel report now lends credibility to the Houthis’ assertions. According to the report, U.S. intelligence agencies had been aware of an uptick in missile activity in the region, though they had not anticipated a successful launch that could pose a threat to a high-value military target like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Escorted by a fleet of U.S. Navy warships, including the cruiser USS Philippine Sea and destroyers USS Gravely, USS Mason, USS Laboon, and USS Carney, the aircraft carrier was well-defended during its Red Sea mission. These escort vessels provided aerial cover and missile defense, shielding the carrier from potential attacks by hostile aircraft, drones, and missiles. Despite these protective measures, the Houthis’ ASBM managed to evade interception, signaling potential gaps in current missile defense systems.
The narrow miss near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is part of a broader pattern of escalating missile threats in the Red Sea region. The Houthis, backed by Iranian military and technological support, have increasingly relied on ballistic missile systems to target military and commercial vessels. The recent use of ASBMs marks a new chapter in their asymmetric warfare strategy, wherein they aim to disrupt U.S. naval operations while intimidating regional adversaries.
One of the most striking examples of this occurred on December 15, 2023, when Houthi forces fired two Khalije Fars ASBMs at the commercial vessel MV Palatium 3 while it was transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This attack is believed to be the first successful use of an ASBM against a moving ship in open waters. The missile strike caused significant damage to the MV Palatium 3, igniting a fire and underscoring the effectiveness of the Houthis’ missile technology.
The Khalije Fars missile used in that attack, a single-stage, solid-propellant missile with a range of up to 300 kilometers, has become a key component of the Houthis’ arsenal. Based on the Iranian-made Fateh-110 platform, the Khalije Fars carries a 650-kilogram warhead and is equipped with advanced guidance systems that make it resistant to jamming and electronic countermeasures. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 4 and has been specifically designed to engage maritime targets in contested waters, making it a formidable weapon in the Red Sea theatre.
The Houthis’ missile capabilities have largely been attributed to Iranian support. Tehran has been accused of supplying advanced missile technology to the Houthi movement as part of its broader strategy to counter U.S. and allied military forces in the region. This collaboration has enabled the Houthis to develop and deploy increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including ASBMs, that are capable of targeting both military and commercial vessels.
Intelligence reports from the U.S. and allied nations suggest that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played a central role in providing missile training and equipment to the Houthis. The Khalije Fars missile, in particular, is believed to be part of a shipment of Iranian weapons that have been smuggled into Yemen over the past several years. This missile system, with its high precision and powerful warhead, represents a significant challenge for naval forces operating in the region.
Iran’s involvement in supplying such weapons to the Houthis is part of a broader strategy aimed at deterring Western influence in the Middle East and creating instability along vital maritime routes like the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The latter is particularly crucial, as it serves as one of the world’s busiest chokepoints for global oil and trade shipments. By arming the Houthis with advanced missiles, Iran seeks to assert its dominance over this strategic region while simultaneously pressuring its adversaries.
The Houthis’ growing missile capabilities have far-reaching implications not only for military forces but also for global shipping lanes. The Red Sea, through which an estimated 10% of the world’s trade flows, is a critical artery for global commerce. Any disruption to the free flow of ships in this region could have serious consequences for the global economy, particularly for the energy sector, as much of the world’s oil supply transits through this route.
The Houthis have already issued warnings that they would target commercial vessels bound for Israel’s port of Eilat. This threat, combined with the group’s demonstrated ability to strike moving ships, raises concerns about the safety of commercial maritime operations in the Red Sea. Should the Houthis continue to improve their missile accuracy and range, the potential for a major disruption to international shipping could become a reality.
Moreover, the recent near-miss of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower underscores the vulnerability of even heavily protected military vessels. If the Houthis can successfully target an aircraft carrier, albeit without a direct hit, it raises questions about the effectiveness of current missile defense systems. Naval forces operating in the region may need to enhance their defensive capabilities to counter the evolving threat posed by Houthi missiles.
In response to the growing missile threat, the U.S. military is likely to reassess its strategy in the region. While the U.S. Navy maintains a strong presence in the Red Sea, the ability of Houthi forces to target high-value military assets such as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower represents a new challenge. This incident may prompt the U.S. and its allies to invest in more advanced missile defense systems and surveillance technology to detect and neutralize potential threats before they can reach their targets.
Additionally, the U.S. may increase its diplomatic efforts to counter Iranian influence in Yemen. Tehran’s role in supplying missiles to the Houthis has been a longstanding concern, but the latest developments highlight the urgency of addressing this issue. By working with regional partners such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. hopes to stem the flow of Iranian weapons to Houthi forces and prevent further escalations in the Red Sea.
