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06-10-2024
SANA’A/ DUBAI: The US military says it has launched strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, hitting 15 targets.
The Pentagon said it used aircrafts and warships to launch the attacks in order “to protect freedom of navigation”.
Several explosions were reported in some of Yemen’s main cities, including the capital Sanaa.
Since November, the Houthis have launched attacks on around 100 ships in the Red Sea, sinking two vessels. The rebel group says the attacks are retaliation for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said the attacks targeted weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Houthis.
Houthi-aligned media say the Yemeni capital of Sanaa was among cities hit.
On Monday, the Houthis said they had shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. The US military acknowledged losing an unmanned aircraft.
Last week the Pentagon said the Houthis had launched “a complex attack” on US Navy ships in the region, though all of the weapons launched were shot down.
Sanaa has had a respite from bombing in the past two years since fighting between the warring parties in Yemen largely subsided.
As well as the attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis have fired several missiles and drones at Israel directly.
In July a drone launched from Yemen struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring 10. Last month, the group fired several missiles at Israel, including one that targeted Israel’s main airport.
Both times Israel responded by attacking sites in Yemen.
Earlier this year, the US, UK and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping lanes against the Houthis.
The Houthis are part of a network of armed groups in the Middle East backed by Iran that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Houthi rebels have launched more than 40 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November.
The Houthis are an Iranian-backed rebel group which considers Israel an enemy.
In response to the war in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis started firing drones and missiles towards Israel. Most have been intercepted.
On 19 November, the Houthis hijacked a commercial ship in the Red Sea.
They have since launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on commercial ships. Of these, 34 have resulted in reported damage to vessels.
The Rubymar, a cargo ship which was hit in February, later sank.
On 6 March, three crew members were killed in a missile attack on the Barbados-flagged cargo ship True Confidence.
US-led naval forces have thwarted many attacks.
The Houthis initially said they were attacking ships connected with Israel, or heading to or from there. However, many of the vessels have no connection with Israel.
In response to US and UK air strikes on their positions, the Houthis have more recently targeted ships tied to owners or operators in the UK or US.
Major shipping companies have stopped using the Red Sea through which almost 15% of global seaborne trade usually passes and are using a much longer route around southern Africa instead.
The US and UK started carrying out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on 11 January. There have been several more strikes since then. (Int’l News Desk)
