The U.S. military has conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen, according to the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers carried out precision strikes on five underground locations in areas controlled by the Houthi militia.
Austin explained that the strikes were aimed at destroying weapons components used by the Houthis in attacks on civilian and military vessels throughout the region. He said the operation was authorized by President Joe Biden.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) emphasized that the strikes demonstrated the United States’ ability to carry out global strikes anytime and anywhere, showcasing its reach and power.
These airstrikes are part of a series of retaliatory actions by the U.S. in response to Houthi missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, CENTCOM reported multiple strikes on Houthi targets that contained offensive military capabilities.
The Houthi militant group, backed by Iran, has been responsible for numerous missile and drone attacks since November 2023, targeting commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. These attacks, carried out in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, have caused significant disruptions to global supply chains. In one incident, a missile attack on a Liberian-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden resulted in the death of three people.
In addition to these actions, the Houthis hijacked an Israeli-linked cargo ship in November last year and took its crew hostage. Tensions escalated in July when a Houthi drone strike hit downtown Tel Aviv, resulting in one death and several injuries. Israel responded with its own airstrikes in Yemen.
Austin noted that the Houthis’ attacks have been reckless, unlawfully targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These illegal actions threaten the free flow of international trade, pose environmental risks, and endanger innocent lives.
In January, the Biden administration officially designated the Houthis as a "specially designated global terrorist group," underscoring the severity of their actions.
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