A US defense official confirmed to ABC News that American airstrikes targeted Houthi facilities in Yemen on Saturday night.
U.S. Central Command forces “conducted multiple airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” according to an official.
“The targets contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the official said, adding that more information on the strikes would be released “soon.”
The United States and the United Kingdom launched their first airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in January 2024, following months of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea.
The Houthis launched their anti-shipping campaign in response to Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel. Houthi leaders have promised to continue attacking until Israel ends its campaign in Gaza and withdraws from the territory.
The Houthis have also launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on Israeli territory and as far north as the Mediterranean Sea. These included a lethal drone strike on Tel Aviv in July.
The attacks by the Houthis have also prompted Israel to respond. In September, for example, “dozens” of Israeli warplanes struck infrastructure at the Ras Isa and Hodeidah ports.
Saturday’s US airstrikes are the first since Tuesday’s presidential election. On Friday, the Houthis claimed to have brought down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthi group’s leader, has stated that President-elect Donald Trump “will fail” to resolve the multi-front regional conflict.
