Washington, D.C. – The United States carried out additional strikes against Houthi locations in Yemen, following a coordinated multi-nation attack on nearly 30 Houthi positions. According to a US official, the strikes conducted on Friday night were smaller in scale compared to the previous night. The target of these strikes was a radar facility used by the Houthis, who had earlier fired at least one anti-ship ballistic missile at a commercial vessel.
On Thursday, the US and UK, with support from Canada, Australia, Bahrain, and the Netherlands, launched strikes against 28 separate Houthi sites in an effort to disrupt their ability to attack international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. However, the latest strike on Friday night was conducted solely by the United States, according to the official.
US President Joe Biden, while in Pennsylvania on Friday, vowed to respond to the Houthis if they continued their aggressive actions. Despite the US-led strikes, the Iran-backed rebel group launched yet another anti-ship ballistic missile towards a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen.
The timing of the additional strikes coincides with the White House’s attempt to avoid further escalation in the region. John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, emphasized that every action taken by the US is aimed at preventing escalation.
The US-led strikes on Thursday evening primarily targeted radar facilities, command and control nodes, as well as storage and launch sites for drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. These weapons have been used by the Houthis to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi military reported five deaths and six injuries resulting from the attacks.
Reacting to the strikes, the Houthis declared that their forces would retaliate, considering US and UK assets as “legitimate targets.”
In summary, the United States conducted additional strikes against Houthi locations in Yemen, targeting a radar facility after a coordinated attack with the UK on multiple sites. The strikes were in response to the Houthis’ ongoing aggression towards commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Despite efforts to prevent escalation, the rebel group launched another anti-ship ballistic missile after the strikes. The US-led attack aimed to disrupt the Houthi’s ability to target international shipping lanes and resulted in casualties. The Houthis vowed to retaliate against US and UK assets.