In a first, Houthi rebels launched surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at a U.S. F-16 fighter jet on February 19th, according to three senior U.S. defense officials.
The incident occurred over the Red Sea while the jet was in flight. The missile did not hit its target.
On the same day, the Houthis also fired a SAM at a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone operating over Yemen, outside of Houthi-controlled territory.
U.S. defense officials are calling the targeting of the F-16 a significant escalation in the military interactions between the U.S. Navy and Air Force and the Iranian-backed group.
The U.S. military has been defending its warships in the Red Sea and Bab al Mandab Strait, protecting commercial ships from Houthi attacks since the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel by Hamas.
Houthi attacks intensified following Israel’s military response in Gaza after October 7th. U.S. Central Command has since increased its strikes against the Houthis to weaken their infrastructure and weapons storage sites.
A policy debate is now underway within the U.S. military regarding the optimal strategy for countering the Houthis, who have been redesignated as a terrorist organization by the .
The core of the debate revolves around whether to adopt a more conventional counterterrorism approach, focusing on individuals planning and executing attacks, or to maintain a more defensive posture, continuing to target Houthi infrastructure and weapons facilities.
A counterterrorism strategy would represent a significant – and potentially costly – escalation, particularly given the diversion of military resources, including MQ-9 Reaper drones, to the southern border.
The White House will ultimately decide on the policy direction.
Senior military leaders express concern that it is only a matter of time before a Houthi missile strikes a U.S. Navy vessel, potentially causing severe casualties and damage to aircraft carriers and destroyers patrolling the Red Sea since shortly after the October 7th attacks.
To date, the Navy has successfully intercepted all missiles and drones fired at its warships by the Houthis, though some interceptions have occurred with only seconds to spare.
These close calls are numerous, and the U.S. Navy has essentially been engaged in a conflict in the Red Sea for the past two years, facing constant attacks from Houthi ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, and expending costly SM-2 and SM-3 missiles to counter these threats.
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