US initiates airstrikes in Yemen
For the first time in months, US jets and ship-launched missiles have conducted strikes against the Houthis in various locations, including Sanaa and Hodeidah. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Washington has been actively working to prevent the Houthis from blockading the Red Sea.
Recently, ships and fighter jets from the US Central Command targeted more than a dozen sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which include the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah.
The Houthis, a Shia group that identifies as the Yemeni government, exert control over the northwest regions of the country. For nearly a year, they have been impeding Israeli and Western shipping in the Red Sea as part of their campaign to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza.
The US military detailed that the strikes, which occurred on Friday afternoon, aimed at 15 Houthi targets, focusing on “offensive military capabilities” to “protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels.”
Before the official CENTCOM announcement, unnamed US officials informed AP that the strikes were directed at “weapons systems, bases and other equipment” located at five sites.
Yemeni media reported that seven strikes targeted the Hodeidah airport and the military base at Katheib. Two explosions were noted in Dhamar province, three in Bayda province (southeast of Sanaa), and four additional strikes hit the capital itself.
This operation marks the first US attack against the Houthis since June. Israeli aircraft reportedly struck Hodeidah last week following the Houthis’ launch of a ballistic missile toward Israel.
Since last October, the Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant ships, switching from an initial focus on vessels “linked to” Israel to also including US and UK ships after the Anglo-American airstrikes in January. In response, Washington deployed several warships to the region under “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” aimed at keeping the Bab el-Mandeb Strait open. Despite this, the US Navy has struggled to deter the Houthis, leading many Western shipping companies to circumvent the Suez Canal by routing their vessels around Africa instead.
Over the weekend, the Houthis showcased a video depicting one of their sea drones hitting the Panamanian-flagged tanker Cordelia Moon in the Red Sea. They have reported downing nearly a dozen US surveillance and strike drones and have fired upon US warships multiple times. CENTCOM asserts that all incoming missiles and drones have been intercepted successfully.
The United States has labeled the Houthis as a proxy of Iran, a claim the group refutes. Earlier this week, Iran conducted a significant missile barrage against Israel in retaliation for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, along with a senior general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Recently, ships and fighter jets from the US Central Command targeted more than a dozen sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which include the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah.
The Houthis, a Shia group that identifies as the Yemeni government, exert control over the northwest regions of the country. For nearly a year, they have been impeding Israeli and Western shipping in the Red Sea as part of their campaign to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza.
The US military detailed that the strikes, which occurred on Friday afternoon, aimed at 15 Houthi targets, focusing on “offensive military capabilities” to “protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels.”
Before the official CENTCOM announcement, unnamed US officials informed AP that the strikes were directed at “weapons systems, bases and other equipment” located at five sites.
Yemeni media reported that seven strikes targeted the Hodeidah airport and the military base at Katheib. Two explosions were noted in Dhamar province, three in Bayda province (southeast of Sanaa), and four additional strikes hit the capital itself.
This operation marks the first US attack against the Houthis since June. Israeli aircraft reportedly struck Hodeidah last week following the Houthis’ launch of a ballistic missile toward Israel.
Since last October, the Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant ships, switching from an initial focus on vessels “linked to” Israel to also including US and UK ships after the Anglo-American airstrikes in January. In response, Washington deployed several warships to the region under “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” aimed at keeping the Bab el-Mandeb Strait open. Despite this, the US Navy has struggled to deter the Houthis, leading many Western shipping companies to circumvent the Suez Canal by routing their vessels around Africa instead.
Over the weekend, the Houthis showcased a video depicting one of their sea drones hitting the Panamanian-flagged tanker Cordelia Moon in the Red Sea. They have reported downing nearly a dozen US surveillance and strike drones and have fired upon US warships multiple times. CENTCOM asserts that all incoming missiles and drones have been intercepted successfully.
The United States has labeled the Houthis as a proxy of Iran, a claim the group refutes. Earlier this week, Iran conducted a significant missile barrage against Israel in retaliation for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, along with a senior general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
