The U.S. military announced that its forces executed strikes on 14 Houthi missiles prepared for launch from Yemen on Wednesday, marking the fourth day of American strikes in less than a week. The U.S. Central Command stated in a release on X that the Houthi missiles "represented an imminent threat to commercial vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been launched at any moment, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their right and inherent obligation to defend themselves."
The statement added that "these strikes, along with other actions we have taken, will weaken the Houthis' capability to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden."
Meanwhile, the Yemen News Agency (Saba), which is run by the Houthis, reported that "the U.S.-British aggression has renewed its targeting of several Yemeni governorates." They claimed, "The U.S.-British aggression's aircraft targeted the governorates of Hodeidah, Taiz, Dhamar, Al-Bayda, and Saada."
The Houthi group's attacks on vessels in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and raised concerns among major powers. The purpose of the U.S. strikes is to weaken the Houthis' ability to carry out attacks in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis, who control large areas in Yemen, claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and have threatened to expand their attacks.
Earlier on Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command reported that a drone launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen hit a U.S.-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden. It was noted on X that there were no injuries but reports of some damage were received. The Central Command specified that the ship flies the Marshall Islands flag and is owned and operated by the U.S.
On Wednesday, the United States reinstated the Houthi movement on a list of terrorist groups while the Houthis claimed responsibility for another attack this week on a U.S.-operated vessel in the Red Sea.
