Houthis fire missile at US F-16 in unprecedented Red Sea attack

Yemen’s Ansarallah (Houthis) launched surface-to-air missiles at a US F-16 fighter jet over the Red Sea on February 19, marking the first known attempt to target an American warplane, according to senior US defense officials. The missile, fired as the jet operated off the coast of Yemen, failed to hit its target. On the same day, the Houthis also fired a missile at an American MQ-9 Reaper drone flying outside Houthi-controlled areas.

Three senior US defense officials confirmed the attack to Fox News, highlighting growing tensions in the region. High-level discussions are reportedly underway within the US military on how best to respond to the Houthis’ escalating actions. Despite the strike, the Ansarallah Movement has not issued any official statement regarding the operation.

The Houthis have been targeting Israeli and US interests, claiming their attacks are in “solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza” amid the ongoing war that began on October 7, 2023. The conflict has claimed over 48,339 lives, mostly women and children.

Earlier, President Donald Trump once again designated Yemen’s Houthi movement as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO), reinforcing his administration’s hardline stance on the group. As tensions in the Red Sea continue to rise, Washington is weighing its next move in confronting the Houthis’ growing military capabilities.