U.S. forces stationed in the Naher Osten faced a series of coordinated attacks over the weekend, prompting retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militias, according to announcements by the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

On Monday, U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Spruance were targeted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Pentagon reported that the attack involved a sophisticated arsenal including “at least eight attack drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles,” all of which were successfully intercepted and neutralised.

“The vessels were not damaged, no personnel were hurt,” confirmed Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a press briefing.

CENTCOM also noted that, over the weekend, U.S. forces launched strikes on Houthi storage sites containing “a variety of advanced conventional weapons.”

On Sunday, Iran-backed militants targeted Mission Support Site Green Village in Syria using a combination of drone and rocket attacks.

“No troops were injured in those attacks,” Maj. Gen. Ryder stated. CENTCOM responded by targeting nine sites associated with Iranian-aligned groups in Syria, reinforcing the U.S. stance on defending its forces, according to Ryder.

“Central Command took appropriate action again to protect our forces and send a clear message that attacks against our forces won’t be tolerated,” said Ryder.

The specific groups responsible for the attacks and targeted in the response were not disclosed by CENTCOM.

Currently, approximately 900 American troops remain in Syria as part of the ongoing international coalition effort against ISIS, a mission set to gradually scale down over the next two years.

Maj. Gen. Ryder also noted that the recent strikes come amid an increase in Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, a situation that has escalated following the outbreak of Israel’s conflict in Gaza. In response, the U.S. launched an international coalition late last year to safeguard shipping lanes, though many companies have opted to reroute to avoid potential threats.

Post Image – USS Stockdale arrives in Fiji in 2019 (Post Image Credit: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command)