US military destroys Houthi weapons depots after attacks on commercial vessels VIDEO

14 November 2024 11:23

The US military has carried out a series of airstrikes targeting weapons depots belonging to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, responding to the group’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation took place on November 9 and 10, involving US Air Force and Navy assets, including F-35C fighter jets, Caliber.Az reports.

U.S. Central Command Strikes Houthi Facilities and Weapons Systems

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities… pic.twitter.com/nMkWTvegIr
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 13, 2024

The strikes focused on Houthi facilities believed to be storing advanced weaponry. CENTCOM emphasized that the operation was a direct response to repeated illegal attacks by the Houthis on international shipping in strategic regions such as the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The US military said the airstrikes were also aimed at mitigating the threat posed by the Houthis to regional partners.

In addition to the airstrikes, US Navy destroyers Stockdale and Spruance, along with US Air Force and Navy aircraft, successfully destroyed several Houthi launchers while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This included the destruction of eight unmanned aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and four anti-ship cruise missiles that were intended to target merchant ships and their crews.

The US military reported that there were no casualties or damage to US personnel or equipment during the operation. Furthermore, CENTCOM released video footage showing an MQ-9 Reaper drone striking a mobile missile launcher mounted on a truck, further dismantling the Houthi threat.

On November 12, the Houthis attempted to target two US destroyers with drones and missiles while they transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. However, according to Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder, the warships successfully repelled the attacks. Ryder clarified that the Houthis' claims of attacking the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier were inaccurate. "Based on the information I have, it was not attacked, contrary to some of the allegations... by the Houthis," Ryder said, declining to specify the carrier's location.

The Houthi group, which has been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, justifies these attacks as part of a broader solidarity effort with Palestinians in Gaza. The violence stems from regional tensions exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack on October 7. This anger has fueled violence in multiple countries, including Yemen, where Iran-backed militant groups, including the Houthis, have launched attacks in the Red Sea region.

The Pentagon also reiterated its growing concern over the implications of the Houthi actions for long-term stability, particularly for Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The US administration continues to closely monitor developments in the region as part of its broader strategy to counter Iranian-backed groups and ensure the security of international shipping lanes.