Barran Press
A U.S. official reported on Saturday, October 26, 2024, that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier group has destroyed more than 100 rockets and drones during its ongoing combat operations against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in the Red Sea.
Captain Chris Hill, commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, stated that the carrier group has been engaged in continuous combat operations for seven months in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping lanes. Hill noted that there were "very few days" in the first half of the year where "nothing happened" in the conflict.
Speaking at a conference for military reporters and editors in Washington, Hill detailed incidents involving Houthi missile and drone attacks on both military and civilian vessels, as well as naval airstrikes targeting the rebels and their armaments in Yemen.
The Eisenhower group, which includes the carrier and several other warships, has recorded significant destruction of enemy equipment during its deployment. Hill remarked, "I’m talking about the downing of over 100 drones, dozens of ballistic missiles, some cruise missiles, and numerous small boats."
He added, "We have also destroyed hundreds of ground targets, including surface-to-air missile systems, weapon caches, and ground-based drones."
The Eisenhower strike group launched nearly 800 munitions during its deployment, which began in the fall of last year and concluded in July. These munitions included surface-to-air missiles, land-attack missiles, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-ground weapons launched from naval vessels and aircraft.
These combat operations come at a high cost, with the Navy expending munitions valued at over one billion dollars. Despite the challenges, U.S. forces continue to intercept Houthi threats and engage the rebels in Yemen.
The Eisenhower has been the busiest aircraft carrier in the Navy over the past five years, having also deployed for 171 days in 2020. Along with other ships, the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier group was part of Operation Sentinel, participating in several missions under U.S. Central Command to disrupt Houthi drone operations and evacuate crews of commercial vessels hit by Houthi weapons.