Early on Friday, U.S. Air Force attack fighters launched from a base in the Middle East, accompanied by "Super Hornet" aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. Tomahawk missiles were fired from ships in the Red Sea, including at least one submarine; however, the specific submarines involved in the strike were not identified. The guided missile submarine USS Florida, capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk missiles, had entered the Red Sea in November.
Four Typhoon aircraft from the British Royal Air Force participated in the strikes, targeting two Houthi sites, having flown from Akrotiri base in Cyprus. The targets included drone launch sites and an airport in Abs used for launching cruise missiles and drones.
Houthi-affiliated channel Al-Masirah reported that the strikes hit “Dailami Air Base north of the capital, the vicinity of Al-Hudaydah airport, areas in Zabid district, Kahlian camp east of Saada city, Taiz airport, the 22nd Brigade camp in Al-Taziyah district, and the airport in Abs district.”
For weeks, the Houthis have been launching drone and missile attacks on ships they consider linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They are carrying out these attacks near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, claiming these actions are to pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza. However, these attacks have jeopardized a waterway that transports up to 12 percent of global trade.
The Pentagon announced that U.S. and British forces shot down 18 explosive drones, two cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile fired by the Houthis from Yemen on Tuesday towards international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea; this attack resulted in no casualties or damages.
CENTCOM indicated that these strikes were unrelated to the "Guardian of Prosperity" operation, with U.S. Central Command leader Eric Kurilla stating that CENTCOM holds the Houthi militants and their Iranian supporters responsible for the reckless and unlawful attacks on international shipping that have affected 55 countries to date, endangering the lives of hundreds of sailors.
He remarked that “their illegal and dangerous actions will not be tolerated” and asserted, “They will be held accountable.”
The United States and its allies announced their intention to “restore stability in the Red Sea” following the American and British strikes in Yemen. In a joint statement, the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United Kingdom affirmed that “our goal remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea.”
