The United States military has conducted targeted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, as confirmed by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
On Wednesday, Austin announced that U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers executed “precision strikes” on five underground weapons storage facilities located in areas controlled by the Houthis. These strikes were aimed at disrupting storage sites that hold weapon components used by the Houthis to launch attacks on civilian and military vessels in the region.
“This operation showcases the United States’ capability to target facilities that adversaries try to protect, no matter how deeply buried or fortified,” Austin stated. He further emphasized, “The deployment of B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrates our global strike capabilities, allowing us to take action against these threats whenever and wherever necessary.”
The U.S. Defense Secretary highlighted ongoing Houthi attacks that threaten international trade, asserting that the strikes were intended to “degrade the Houthis’ capability to continue their destabilizing actions and to protect U.S. forces and personnel in one of the world’s critical waterways.” Central Command also reported that initial assessments indicate no civilian casualties from the strikes.
The Iran-backed Houthi group has conducted over 100 missile and drone strikes against ships in the Red Sea since the onset of the conflict in Gaza. Although the Houthis have framed their aggressive actions as support for Palestinians amid the Israeli bombardment, they have attacked vessels unrelated to the conflict.
These U.S. airstrikes follow a warning from the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who expressed concerns about the potential for further military escalation in the region. “While Yemenis yearn for peace, the prospects for an end to escalating violence seem distant,” he told the UN Security Council.
“Currently, like many across the Middle East, their dreams for a better future are overshadowed by the looming threat of a catastrophic regional conflict,” Grundberg added.
Credit: Aljazeera
