Conflict catalog
2023 Red Sea Crisis: Weapons and Equipment
U.S.-led, partner, and Israeli operations against Houthi attacks on military, commercial, civilian, and Israel-linked maritime targets around the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Eilat.
The 2023 Red Sea Crisis is a maritime and air campaign centered on Houthi missile, UAV, and boat attacks from Yemen against shipping, naval forces, and Israel-linked maritime approaches around the southern Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Eilat. The catalog focuses on documented U.S.-led coalition defensive operations, Israeli Red Sea defensive activity, strikes on Houthi military infrastructure, and the weapons used in a conflict shaped by naval air defense, standoff attack, electronic warfare, and maritime security.
This catalog tracks systems documented in U.S.-led operations, Israeli Red Sea defensive activity, and Houthi attacks connected to the Red Sea shipping crisis.
Entries focus on directly sourced aircraft, missiles, air defenses, drones, and strike systems used by either side.
60 weapon systemsConflict Actors
Maritime security and strike forces / Houthi movement
Houthi movement
14 weapon systems in this catalog
Context
- Status
- Published catalog
- Location
- Southern Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Houthi-controlled Yemen
- Countries
- Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia
- Regions
- Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Western Yemen
- Domains
- air, maritime, missile strikes, UAV, air defense, electronic warfare, naval, insurgency
The 2023 Red Sea Crisis archive is weighted toward naval aviation, ship- and air-launched precision strike, air defense, UAV, and electronic-warfare systems because most documented actions involve intercepting Houthi missiles and drones at sea, carrier or bomber strikes on launch and storage infrastructure in Yemen, Israeli defensive activity around the Red Sea and Eilat, and protection of merchant traffic. The Houthi side is harder to represent at system level because many public sources identify broad weapon classes rather than recoverable model names, so entries should stay limited to directly sourced systems and conflict-specific use.
Map
Southern Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Houthi-controlled Yemen
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Timeline
Key Events
USS Carney defeats Houthi missiles and UAVs
USS Carney defeated a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, providing the catalog start point for documented naval air-defense activity.
Sources: USS Carney Engages Houthi Missiles and UAVs
Galaxy Leader hijacked west of Hodeidah
MARAD reported that the Bahamian-flagged M/V Galaxy Leader was hijacked about 50 miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen, expanding the crisis from attempted missile and UAV attacks into direct interference with commercial shipping.
Sources: MARAD Red Sea Hijacking Advisory
Operation Prosperity Guardian announced
The U.S. announced Operation Prosperity Guardian under the Combined Maritime Forces and Task Force 153 to address Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Sources: Operation Prosperity Guardian Statement
UN Security Council demands halt to Houthi attacks
UN Security Council Resolution 2722 condemned Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and requested reporting on further attacks.
Sources: UN Security Council Resolution 2722
First U.S.-UK coalition strikes hit Houthi targets
U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces, coordinated with the United Kingdom and supported by Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain, struck Houthi targets linked to attacks on vessels and commercial shipping.
Sources: U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes
M/V Rubymar sinks in the Red Sea
CENTCOM reported that the Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier Rubymar sank after being struck by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on February 18, highlighting the environmental and navigational risk to the waterway.
Sources: Sinking of Motor Vessel Rubymar
B-2 bombers strike underground Houthi storage sites
The U.S. said B-2 Spirit bombers struck five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled Yemen tied to weapons used against civilian and military vessels.
Sources: B-2 Strikes Underground Houthi Targets
IMO reports renewed attacks after months of calm
The International Maritime Organization reported renewed Red Sea attacks on Magic Seas and Eternity C after several months of calm, while noting at least 69 attacks on international shipping from November 2023 through October 2024.
Sources: IMO Renewed Red Sea Attacks Statement
Phases
Opening Houthi maritime campaign
Houthi missile, UAV, and ship-interference activity escalated around the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, including the USS Carney engagement and the Galaxy Leader hijacking.
Multinational maritime defense and coalition strikes
Operation Prosperity Guardian organized coalition maritime defense while U.S., UK, and partner-supported strikes targeted Houthi launch, radar, UAV, missile, and command infrastructure after continued attacks on commercial shipping.
Operation Rough Rider strike surge
CENTCOM began a larger strike campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation; later analysis described a May 6 U.S.-Houthi ceasefire that left non-U.S. and Israel-linked shipping risks unresolved.
Renewed maritime-risk period
IMO reporting on renewed attacks against Magic Seas and Eternity C showed that the threat to commercial traffic persisted despite pauses and narrow de-escalation arrangements.
External Support
External involvement is central to the catalog: Operation Prosperity Guardian put U.S.-led maritime defense under Combined Maritime Forces and Task Force 153, while the European Union launched EUNAVFOR Aspides as a defensive maritime-security operation for freedom of navigation. January 2024 strikes were conducted by U.S. and UK forces with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. U.S. official sources describe the Houthis as Iran-backed and link Houthi military capabilities to attacks on international shipping, but the catalog should treat specific supplier or transfer claims as source-dependent rather than inferred.
Images
Weapons
2023 Red Sea Crisis Weapon Systems
Role
Fire Support
Provided supporting fire for troops, vehicles, or maneuver units.
Role
Long-Range Strike
Attacked targets far behind the front line, such as bases, depots, headquarters, or infrastructure.
11 remaining
Role
Interdiction
Disrupted enemy movement, reinforcements, logistics, supply routes, or staging areas.
3 remaining
Role
Area Denial
Made a zone dangerous or unusable for enemy forces, aircraft, ships, or vehicles.
2 remaining
Role
Air Defense
Used to detect, deter, or destroy aircraft, helicopters, drones, or missiles.
16 remaining
Role
Reconnaissance & Surveillance
Used to observe, locate, track, or monitor enemy forces.
Role
Electronic Warfare
Used to jam, spoof, intercept, disrupt, or protect electronic signals and communications.
Role
Mobility & Logistics
Supported transport, supply, repair, evacuation, fuel, ammunition, or movement across terrain.
Role
Force Protection
Protected troops, vehicles, bases, convoys, ships, or infrastructure from attack.
17 remaining
Role
Psychological Impact
Affected morale, fear, public perception, propaganda, or symbolic meaning.
Role
Asymmetric Advantage
Helped a weaker or less conventional force offset a stronger opponent.
Role
Insurgent / Guerrilla Use
Used by irregular forces for ambushes, raids, harassment, or resistance warfare.
News
Latest 2023 Red Sea Crisis News
Red Sea Attacks Put Drone Boats Back Beside Anti-Ship Missiles
2023 Red Sea CrisisExplosive unmanned surface vesselAnti-ship cruise missileAsef anti-ship ballistic missileThe July 2025 attacks on Magic Seas and Eternity C showed Houthi explosive unmanned surface vessels operating alongside missiles, RPGs, small arms, and small craft in the Red Sea, renewing focus on the anti-ship weapons threatening merchant traffic off Yemen.Sources: Joint Maritime Information Center, International Maritime Organization, Associated Press, U.S. Central Command
Conflict Sources
Official U.S., UN, and IMO releases are used for core dates and scope. Houthi capabilities are often described in public sources by weapon class rather than exact model, so archive entries should require direct system-level evidence before adding Houthi-side weapons.
- USS Carney Engages Houthi Missiles and UAVsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Navy image page supporting the October 19, 2023 Red Sea engagement and image licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- MARAD Red Sea Hijacking AdvisoryPublisher: U.S. Maritime Administration | Note: Official advisory on the November 19, 2023 M/V Galaxy Leader hijacking west of Hodeidah. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- Operation Prosperity Guardian StatementPublisher: U.S. Department of War | Note: Announces Operation Prosperity Guardian and describes the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden security focus. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- UN Security Council Resolution 2722Publisher: United Nations Security Council | Note: Resolution text hosted by IMO; supports UN condemnation and reporting requirements for Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint StrikesPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: CENTCOM release on January 2024 U.S.-UK strikes and partner support against Houthi targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- Sinking of Motor Vessel RubymarPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: CENTCOM release on the March 2024 sinking of Rubymar and associated maritime and environmental risk. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- MV Rubymar Sinking Image PagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Central Command image page used for Rubymar image licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- B-2 Strikes Underground Houthi TargetsPublisher: U.S. Department of War | Note: Official statement on October 2024 B-2 strikes against hardened underground Houthi weapons storage sites. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- CENTCOM Launches Large-Scale Houthi OperationPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Official statement that CENTCOM began a March 15, 2025 strike operation against Houthi targets in Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- Soufan Center U.S.-Houthi Ceasefire AnalysisPublisher: The Soufan Center | Note: Analytical source on the May 2025 U.S.-Houthi ceasefire and its limits for Red Sea navigation and Israel-linked targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- IMO Renewed Red Sea Attacks StatementPublisher: International Maritime Organization | Note: IMO statement on July 2025 renewed attacks on Magic Seas and Eternity C and prior attack counts. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- Times of Israel C-Dome Red Sea interceptionPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports inclusion of Israel as a represented side through Israeli C-Dome/Sa'ar 6 defensive activity against a target entering from the direction of the Red Sea and believed launched from Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-01
- HMS Richmond Red Sea Image PagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: UK Open Government Licence image page documenting HMS Richmond in Red Sea merchant-shipping protection operations. | Accessed: 2026-06-20
- Council Launches EUNAVFOR ASPIDESPublisher: Council of the European Union | Note: Supports EUNAVFOR Aspides as an EU defensive maritime-security operation linked to the Red Sea crisis. | Accessed: 2026-07-01
