In a rare operation, U.S. long-range B-2 stealth bombers carried out airstrikes early Thursday morning on underground bunkers used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials confirmed. The extent of the damage from the strikes has not yet been clarified.

This marked an unusual deployment of the B-2 Spirit bombers, which are seldom used in strikes against the Houthis. The rebels have been involved in attacking ships in the Red Sea corridor amid ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Houthis’ al-Masirah news channel reported airstrikes near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and in the rebel stronghold of Saada, but no details were given about damage or casualties.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the B-2 bombers targeted "five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen." The operation also seemed to serve as a warning to Iran, a key supporter of the Houthis, which has launched ballistic missile attacks on Israel twice in the past year.

Austin added, “This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified.” Neither Austin nor U.S. Central Command provided an immediate assessment of the damage.

The Red Sea has increasingly become a conflict zone for international shipping, as the Houthis have escalated their campaign targeting vessels passing through the waterway, which once handled about $1 trillion in cargo annually. Since the war in Gaza began last October, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant ships using missiles and drones. They have seized one vessel, sunk two others, and caused the deaths of four sailors. Many attacks have been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition or have failed to hit their targets.

While the Houthis claim their attacks are aimed at ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the UK, many of the vessels targeted have had no apparent link to the conflict, with some even bound for Iran. The rebels have also launched missiles at Israel and downed several U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, vowing further retaliation after Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

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