Houthis target U.S. warships as media fixates on Trump chat leak

• Houthi rebels claimed attacks on a U.S. warship (USS Truman) and Israeli military sites, escalating regional hostilities.
• The Pentagon has not confirmed the strikes, but U.S. forces have intercepted multiple Houthi drones in recent weeks.
• A leaked Trump administration Signal chat about military strategy has overshadowed coverage of the Houthi threat.
• Iran supports the Houthis with weapons and training, fueling a proxy conflict despite U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
• Yemeni civilians suffer extreme poverty and famine while Houthi supporters justify attacks as solidarity with Gaza.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for fresh attacks on U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Israeli military sites early Wednesday in a brazen escalation of hostilities that underscores the growing threat to American forces in the region.

While the mainstream media obsesses over a leaked Trump administration group chat discussing military strategy, the real story — repeated assaults on U.S. personnel — is being overshadowed. The Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., asserted they targeted the USS Harry S. Truman and launched drones at Tel Aviv, though the Pentagon has yet to confirm the claims.

Houthis claim retaliatory strikes

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced on social media that the group had conducted two operations: one against the USS Truman and another targeting Israeli military locations with drones. “The confrontation and clashes continued for several hours,” Saree declared, vowing to counter “American aggression” with further escalation. The rebels, who control much of Yemen, have repeatedly attacked commercial and military vessels since the Israel-Hamas war began, framing their campaign as solidarity with Gaza.

U.S. forces have intercepted multiple Houthi drones in recent weeks, but the group’s latest claims follow a series of American airstrikes in Yemen, which the Pentagon says are necessary to degrade Houthi capabilities. Since March 15, U.S. strikes have reportedly killed at least 53 people, though the Houthis downplay their losses. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz asserted the strikes have eliminated key Houthi leaders, including their “head missileer,” but the rebels have not acknowledged such casualties.

Mainstream media fixates on Signal chat controversy

While U.S. servicemen face direct threats, much of the media’s attention has fixated on a Signal group chat involving Trump administration officials — including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — that was accidentally shared with The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The chat, titled “Houthi PC Small Group,” reportedly included discussions about military plans, prompting criticism over security protocols.

Hegseth dismissed the uproar, calling Goldberg a “deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist” known for “peddling hoaxes.” He insisted, “Nobody was texting war plans.” Yet the controversy has diverted focus from the Houthis’ ongoing aggression — a pattern critics argue reflects the media’s misplaced priorities.

A proxy war with Iran

The Houthis’ attacks are part of a broader Iranian-backed campaign to destabilize the region. Though Tehran denies direct control over the group, its supply of weapons and training has emboldened the rebels. President Trump has repeatedly demanded Iran cease its support, warning the Houthis will be defeated. Yet with each U.S. strike, the rebels retaliate, perpetuating a cycle of violence.

For Yemeni civilians, the conflict has been devastating. Nearly 20 million face poverty, and millions are on the brink of famine after a decade of war. Still, many Houthi supporters view their fight as a necessary sacrifice for Gaza. “Standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people is a cause worth enduring hardship,” one Yemeni told Al Jazeera.

As Washington debates communication protocols, the Houthis continue to threaten U.S. forces and global shipping lanes with impunity. The attacks on the USS Truman — whether confirmed or propaganda — highlight a sobering reality: American personnel remain in the crosshairs of Iran’s proxies. While the media chases leaks, the real story is the escalating danger to U.S. troops, and it demands more attention than a misplaced group chat.

Sources for this article include:

NYPost.com

AlJazeera.com

APNews.com