US Launches Airstrikes in Yemen Following Houthis’ Redesignation as ‘Terrorist’ Group

American forces targeted 14 missiles that were ready to launch in Yemen, the US military said Wednesday, after Washington re-designated the Iran-backed Houthi rebels as a “terrorist” entity for their attacks on merchant vessels. The Houthis struck a US-owned bulk cargo carrier in the wake of the designation announcement and vowed to continue attacks they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. US forces “conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen,” Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. Hodeida and the city of Taez were among the targets of the first round of US and UK strikes in Yemen last week. The United States announced earlier on Wednesday that it would return the Houthis to a list of “terrorist” entities. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the designation “is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.” While the Houthis say they have been attacking Israeli-linked vessels, Washington says dozens of countries have connections to the ships that have been targeted in the vital waterway. The rebels have also declared American and British interests “legitimate targets,” and Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in televised remarks that they targeted a US vessel called the Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.