On Tuesday, the US military announced that its forces had conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which the Iran-backed rebels were allegedly using to attack American warships and commercial vessels.
The military operations began on Monday and involved US Navy ships and aircraft hitting Houthi-controlled coastal regions in Yemen. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Navy and Air Force aircraft successfully destroyed seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) over the Red Sea.
CENTCOM clarified that there were no injuries or damage to US personnel or equipment resulting from these strikes. Witnesses in Sanaa reported seeing multiple strikes in various locations, with one individual specifically mentioning raids on the Defense Ministry and hearing a significant explosion.
In response to the strikes, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam characterized the actions as “an American aggression” and claimed it constituted a “blatant violation of the sovereignty of an independent state” as well as open support for Israel.
Earlier on the same day, the Houthis announced that they had fired two missiles at Israel, following a statement from the Israeli military that had intercepted a projectile launched from Yemen. The Houthis, who control a substantial part of war-torn Yemen, have been targeting Israel, ships in the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, citing their actions as solidarity with Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war.