US Targets Houthi Positions in Yemen With Airstrikes

A locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. AP Photo

U.S. forces conducted 15 strikes in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, announced on Friday.

CENTCOM stated that the targets were related to “Houthi offensive military capabilities.”

“These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels,” CENTCOM said in a statement on social media.

The strikes were reported earlier by Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by the Houthi terrorist group, which controls significant parts of Yemen.

According to Al Masirah TV, the strikes were in response to a “massive rally” held in support of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Nasrallah was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike last week—a move that led to Iran retaliating by firing a barrage of missiles directly at Israel earlier this week.

Iran’s direct assault on Israel has led to increased tensions in the region and an escalation of military operations in Lebanon by Israel.

The Houthi outlet reported that the rally was held to express anger toward the United States and Israel for their actions against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

Al Masirah TV added that the airstrikes targeted the provinces of Hodeidah, Baidha, Dhamar, and the capital city of Sanaa.

President Joe Biden at a White House Press Briefing responded to a question about his statement the previous day, where he mentioned that the United States and Israel were “discussing” targeting Iranian oil facilities in response to Iran’s recent direct missile barrage on Israel. On Friday, Biden clarified that he believed Israel should explore alternative targets.

“Look, the Israelis have not concluded what they are going to do in terms of a strike,” Biden said at the press briefing. “That’s under discussion. I think if I were in their shoes, I would be thinking of other alternatives than striking oil fields.”

He added that “no administration has helped Israel more than [his] has” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should “remember that.”

The U.S. airstrikes follow recent threats by the Houthis to escalate military operations against Israel. This comes days after they claimed responsibility for downing a U.S. military drone over Yemen and a week after asserting responsibility for an attack targeting U.S. ships in the Red Sea.

According to U.S. officials cited by The Associated Press, the Houthis recently fired ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and drones at three U.S. ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, all of which were intercepted by Navy destroyers.

The Houthis have reportedly targeted numerous merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the escalation of the Israel–Hamas conflict. They have seized one vessel and sunk two others in a campaign that has resulted in casualties.

Other missiles and drones have been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.

The group maintains that it targets ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the UK to assert pressure for an end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. However, many of the attacked ships have had little or no connection to the conflict.