US dealt new blows to Houthis, destroyed underground missile and drone storage

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (photo: Getty Images)

The US and the UK have carried out strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen. The attack was supported by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, according to the Pentagon press service.

It is noted that during the strike, 18 Houthi targets in eight locations were hit, including underground weapon depots, missile depots, drones, air defense systems, radars, and helicopters.

The Pentagon stated that after the strikes, the ability of the Houthis to attack civilian ships passing through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden will be significantly reduced.

“We will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats,” said Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.

He also noted that Houthi strikes are causing damage to the economy of the Middle East, and the environment, and are hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries.

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea

Since November of last year, there have been ongoing attacks by Yemeni Houthis on trade ships in the Red Sea related to Israel. In January, the terrorist group carried out the largest attack. US and British forces repelled an attack in the Red Sea in early January.

At the beginning of January, the US and UK launched powerful strikes against Houthi-related targets in Yemen in response to the militants’ constant attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea.

On January 28, it was reported that a Houthi drone attacked a British military ship in the Red Sea, and the next day, the Yemeni Houthis claimed to have attacked an American destroyer. However, the Pentagon denied the militants’ claim.

On February 7, Houthis launched 6 anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen towards two commercial vessels in the southern part of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They did not cause damage to the vessels, and one of the missiles was intercepted and shot down by US military forces.

Additionally, on February 21, Houthis attacked an American ship carrying humanitarian aid.