US airstrike dismantles key Houthi facility linked to attacks on navy vessels

US Central Command (CENTCOM) executed a precision airstrike on a key Houthi command and control facility in Sana’a, Yemen, on December 16.

The facility, located in Houthi-controlled territory, played a crucial role in coordinating operations, including assaults on US Navy warships and commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Caliber.Az reports, citing CENTCOM.

The airstrike highlights CENTCOM's ongoing efforts to protect US and coalition forces, regional partners, and global maritime trade. The operation further signals a commitment to countering Iranian-backed Houthi activities in the region.

Meanwhile, the Houthi movement in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a missile strike targeting central Israel, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions. The group vowed to maintain its military campaign against Israel until the Israeli military halts its offensive in Gaza.

In a televised address, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed that the operation, carried out on December 16, involved the launch of a hypersonic ballistic missile named "Palestine 2." The attack was described as a response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths amid more than a year of conflict.

The Israeli military stated that the missile, fired from Yemen, was intercepted before it entered Israeli airspace. A spokesperson reported that missile alerts and sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, out of concern for falling debris from the interception.

While Israeli media confirmed the activation of sirens across Tel Aviv, the Houthis asserted that their strike “successfully achieved its objectives,” though specific details were not provided. The group, aligned with Iran, reiterated its commitment to continue military operations against Israel, pledging not to cease until Israeli forces end their siege of Gaza and stop their attacks on the enclave.

The attack marks a significant escalation in the Houthi-Israeli confrontation, as the Yemeni group intensifies its role in the broader regional conflict.

By Aghakazim Guliyev