On December 11, 2024, the U.S. military announced that two American destroyers successfully intercepted a reckless attack by the Houthi group, classified as a terrorist organization, targeting three commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden.

According to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Houthis launched several drones and a cruise missile as the ships were transiting the Gulf on Monday and Tuesday. CENTCOM confirmed that these "reckless" attacks resulted in no injuries or damage to any ships, civilians, or U.S. naval forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, a military spokesperson for the Houthi group claimed that they had targeted three U.S. supply ships and their accompanying destroyers in the Gulf of Aden.

Since October 2023, the Houthis have ramped up missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden. These assaults have increased marine insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the longer and more circuitous route around the southern tip of Africa.

In response to these threats and to safeguard maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023, while U.S. forces continue to carry out strikes against Houthi military targets periodically.