The First AntiShip Ballistic Missile Attack- Since the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel in October 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of missiles and kamikaze drones at Israeli and U.S. targets in a show of support for Palestine.

The U.S. Navy Destroyer Mason (DDG87) was wrapping up a mission rescuing a tanker from pirates in the Gulf of Aden when the situation sharply escalated. The ship's radar detected at least one-or possibly two-missiles moving toward its position at supersonic speeds, each loaded with well over a half ton of explosives.

- By Sébastien Roblin

The U.S. Navy destroyer Mason (DDG87) was wrapping up a mission rescuing a tanker from pirates in the Gulf of Aden when the situation sharply escalated. The ship's radar detected at least one -or possibly two- missiles moving toward its position at supersonic speeds, each loaded with well over a half ton of explosives.

One or two truck launchers (situated in territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels) had erected their weapons into firing position and launched a missile arcing high on a ballistic trajectory toward the general position of Mason, the Japanese destroyer Akebono, and the Liberian tanker Central Park-a trio of ships that had been called together the day prior to deal with a boarding by unknown armed assailants.

Since the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel in October 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of missiles and kamikaze drones at Israeli and U.S. targets in a show of support for Palestine. But the weapon(s) fired toward Mason that morning were ballistic missiles-and potentially anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMS), a type of weapon never before used in combat.

If so, it's likely that the Houthis employed the Iranian-built Khalij Fars ("Persian Gulf") ASBM, or a domestic spinoff. The nearly 9-meter-long Khalij Fars attains a peak speed of 40 to 50 miles per minute (Mach 3 or 4) and a maximum range of 186 miles. Thus, the Mason