The San Diego-based destroyers USS Spruance and USS Stockdale on Monday repelled missile and drone attacks launched against the warships by Iran-backed Houthis during an incident in the Red Sea, according to the Pentagon.
The ships “were attacked by at least eight one-way Aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters during a briefing. “The vessels were not damaged; no personnel were hurt.”
The aerial assault occurred while Spruance and Stockdale were helping to escort the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. These and other U.S. ships are in the Middle East to help protect Israel from attack by Iran.
Spruance and Stockdale are Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which typically carry about 330 crew members. They are among the most heavily armed ships in the Navy.
The Pentagon said that the Lincoln carrier strike group will soon leave the Middle East and return to San Diego Bay.
