A U.S. media outlet disclosed that the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower have used AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missiles and Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGMs) for the first time in combat operations against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The 'Navy Times,' found that the U.S. have carried out several airstrikes against Houthi targets by F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as other U.S. and allied military assets and that the targets included munitions depots, missile launch systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems used by the Houthis.
Navy Times report concluded that “The employment of such advanced weaponry demonstrates the U.S. Navy's commitment to maintaining air superiority and ensuring the safety of its operations in hostile environments, adding that this strategic move not only aims to degrade the operational capabilities of the Houthis but also sends a strong message regarding the U.S. military's readiness to employ advanced technology in defense of its interests and those of its allies in the region.
Meanwhile the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported in its latest update that its forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi rebels uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
CENTCOM update added that It was determined this weapon presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region, and that its forces action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.