How many dollars did the United States spend to prevent attacks in the Middle East?
CNN
Published: 17 April 2024, 10:59
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US warplanes take off from warships to attack Houthi rebel positions in Yemen File photo: Reuters
The country’s navy has used nearly $1 billion worth of weapons in the past six months to prevent “more than 130 attacks” on US military and commercial ships in the Middle East.
US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said this at the hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday local time. Meanwhile, he urged lawmakers to pass a supplementary national security package to address the arms shortage.
Over the course of six months, we repelled 130 direct attacks, primarily on US Navy ships and commercial vessels. Anti-attack weapons are very important for the Navy.
Carlos del Toro, US Secretary of the Navy
Del Toro said, “Over the course of six months, we basically repelled 130 direct attacks on US Navy ships and commercial vessels. Weapons required to prevent attacks are very important for the Navy.
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has been carrying out drone and missile attacks on commercial ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November last year. They are carrying out these attacks in protest of Israel’s attack on the Palestinian Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the war.
Dale also said, ‘We are currently on the receiving end of a billion dollar weapon. At some point we will have to build up this stockpile of weapons again. More than $200 billion in supplemental funding is critical for our Navy and Marine Corps to be able to meet the arms shortage and continue the defensive actions we have been taking for six and a half months.
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Houthi rebels claim attack on US ship
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has been carrying out drone and missile attacks on commercial ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November last year. They are carrying out these attacks in protest of Israel’s attack on the Palestinian Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the war.
Meanwhile, the United States and its ally, the United Kingdom, are also targeting Houthi positions. The navies of several countries have also formed a patrol alliance led by the United States to prevent attacks by the group.
