The U.S. military conducted precision strikes on weapons depots used by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen to target naval warships and merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The strikes targeted two Iranian-backed Houthi underground Advanced Conventional Weapon storage facilities within Houthi-controlled territories of Yemen. The operation, carried out by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, aimed to degrade Houthi attempts to threaten regional partners and military and merchant vessels in the region.
No injuries to U.S. personnel or damage to U.S. equipment were reported in the strike. However, the military did not confirm casualties among the Houthi terrorists. The specific locations of the strikes in Yemen were not disclosed by CENTCOM, but sources indicated that raids were conducted in the northwestern Amran province and the Sanaa province, where the capital city of Sanaa is situated.
The Houthis, who seized control of Sanaa in 2014, have been a persistent threat in the region. The recent strike is part of a series of actions by the outgoing Biden administration, which has targeted Houthi command and control facilities, weapons production, and storage depots in previous operations.
The Houthis have intensified their attacks following the 2023 Hamas assaults on Israel. Reports suggest that the group continues to launch missile strikes from long distances, posing threats to Israel and disrupting shipping lanes and air transport. Israel has warned of retaliatory measures if the attacks persist, vowing to target Houthi leaders as they have done with other Iran-backed forces.
