USS Carney Boasts 22-0 Record Against Iran-Backed Houthi Missiles in The Middle Eastern Waters

The US Naval Academy football team did not win on Saturday, but hundreds of thousands of miles apart, one American vessel is on a hot streak.

According to a video shared by the US Navy during an Army-Navy football game, the USS Carney has been undefeated — by a margin of 22-0 — against Houthi rebel missiles and drones since the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has been deployed towards Middle Eastern waters in October.

The video includes a brief statement from the commanding officer of Carney, Cmdr. Jeremy Robertson asks if Midshipmen are prepared to “get in the fight.” It then shows more missiles fired from the Carney during distinct conflicts, though it’s unclear when they occurred. The video concludes with text stating that the destroyer is “22-0” and crewmen yelling, “Go Navy, beat Army!”

The real fight continues. BZ to both teams for playing a good game. 🤝 Until next year.

Hooyah USS Carney (DDG 64)!💥💥💥#GoNavy! #AlwaysForward #ArmyNavyGame2023 pic.twitter.com/zNrLqtN8TJ

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) December 9, 2023

Video Credit: US Navy/Twitter

The Navy posted the 30-second video to X after the game, though it aired on CBS at a certain point during the broadcast, according to Stars and Stripes. Over the past two months, the Houthi terrorists in Yemen have launched missiles and drones across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, compelling US Navy vessels on patrol in the region to shoot down a number of these threats. The Iran-backed insurgents are attacking Israeli territory and commercial vessels passing these critical waterways, claiming to be protesting Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza.

While it is not the first vessel to engage the Houthi threats, according to the Navy’s video, the Carney has reportedly downed 22 of those without getting a single hit.

The destroyer recently downed three drones whilst responding to distress calls from various commercial vessels under the Houthi missile fire. The incident, which occurred earlier in the month, lasted for several hours and was the most extensive attack carried out by Yemen-based insurgents.

Former US Navy captains informed Business Insider that the Houthis do not pose a substantial threat to US warships in the area because the Navy ships are well-defended by surface-to-air missiles, modern radars, close-in weapons systems, and additional armaments. However, US officials have cautioned that the militants do pose a threat to commercial vessels as well as international shipping.

They are not engaged in any armed conflict with Houthis, stated Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing on Thursday.

She went on to say that the US has witnessed drones and missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen but that they are most likely aimed at commercial vessels in the vicinity rather than Navy battleships.

Part of why they are in the region is to reinforce the deterrence, but also to guarantee free passageway of commercial vessels that are moving through one of the most critical waterways in the globe, Singh said in a statement.

Washington has stated that it is considering forming a marine task force to address the issue, building on the presence of a similar organization that is presently in the region.

Meanwhile, a Houthi official stated on Saturday that the rebels will begin targeting any vessel heading toward Israel, a substantial escalation from prior strikes on vessels alleged to have ties to Israeli groups.

Reference: Business Insider

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