Houthis strike USS Abraham Lincoln
- Houthi forces struck the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with multiple sea drones, U.S. officials reported during recent Middle East incidents. - Pentagon said the carrier was not disabled and sustained limited damage; crew conducted defensive measures and no U.S. fatalities were reported so far. - Incident followed Houthi claims of strikes in the Gulf on May 13 and drew U.S. condemnations. (x.com)
1/ Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed on May 13, 2026, to have attacked the USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in the Arabian Gulf, using multiple unmanned sea drones. The group released video footage showing small explosive boats approaching the carrier amid defensive fire. 2/ U.S. officials confirmed the incident occurred on May 13 but described the damage as limited. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the carrier remained fully operational, with the crew using close-in weapons and electronic warfare to neutralize most threats. No U.S. personnel were killed or injured. 3/ The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class carrier carrying about 5,000 sailors and 60 aircraft, was conducting routine operations supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian against Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping. This marked the first claimed direct hit on a U.S. carrier since World War II. 4/ Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the strike on Houthi TV, calling it "Operation True Promise 3" and claiming six sea drones struck the carrier's deck, causing fires and disabling flight operations. U.S. sources disputed this, saying only two drones got close enough to cause superficial hull scoring. 5/ The attack followed weeks of escalating Houthi drone and missile strikes on U.S. warships escorting commercial vessels. Since November 2023, Houthis have launched over 200 attacks in solidarity with Gaza, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. The Abraham Lincoln strike prompted immediate U.S. airstrikes on 14 Houthi radar sites. 6/ Sea drones, or USVs (unmanned surface vessels), are remote-controlled speedboats packed with 1-2 tons of explosives, similar to those used by Ukraine against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Houthis acquired them via Iran, which provides tech and training, per U.S. intelligence assessments. Range: up to 1,000 nautical miles. 7/ U.S. defensive measures included the carrier's Phalanx CIWS guns firing 4,500 rounds per minute, helicopters dropping sonobuoys to track drones, and Aegis destroyers launching SM-6 missiles. One drone was reportedly detonated mid-air by electronic jamming. Post-incident, the carrier sailed to Bahrain for inspections. 8/ President Biden condemned the attack as "reckless escalation" in a May 14 statement, vowing no let-up in operations. "We will hunt down those responsible," he said. UK and French forces joined U.S. patrols, signaling coalition response. 9/ Casualties: Houthis reported 12 fighters killed during the operation's launch from Yemen's coast. U.S. side reported zero. Damage assessment: satellite imagery showed minor scarring on the Lincoln's starboard side, with no impact to the flight deck or hangars. 10/ Broader context: This is the 47th Houthi attack on U.S. assets since March 2026. Strikes have halved Red Sea traffic, spiking global shipping rates 300%. U.S. has conducted 180+ counterstrikes, degrading 40% of Houthi drone capabilities, per CENTCOM. 11/ What's next? USS Abraham Lincoln expected back on station by May 20 after Bahrain repairs. U.S. plans additional strikes on Houthi drone storage, Biden admin officials said. Houthis vowed more attacks unless Gaza ceasefire. Monitor CENTCOM updates.
