US, UK conduct airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Houthi weapon sites

The United States and the United Kingdom have launched a series of airstrikes in Yemen, including in the capital city of Sanaa.

The Pentagon confirmed that the strikes targeted advanced weapons storage facilities, reportedly used for attacks on military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Caliber.Az reports, citing Houthi-run news outlet Al Masirah. 

The air raids hit various parts of Sanaa, the northern Amran governorate, and other regions overnight. Eyewitnesses in Sanaa described hearing heavy aircraft activity followed by explosions, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Pentagon stated that the targeted facilities were storing weapons utilized in assaults on ships navigating international waters, part of ongoing efforts by the US and UK since January to curb Houthi attacks on Israeli-linked commercial vessels in the Red Sea. In a previous incident in July, air strikes in Yemen's Hodeidah province resulted in at least 16 deaths, according to Houthi sources.

The Houthis, who control significant portions of Yemen, including Sanaa, have intensified their attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea. They have also launched missile and drone strikes against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. Over the past year, more than 100 Houthi attacks have been reported, leading to the deaths of four sailors, the sinking of two ships, and the detention of another vessel and its crew since its hijacking last November.

The Houthi group has demanded that Israel cease its military actions in Gaza as a condition to halt their attacks, which have disrupted one of the world's busiest maritime routes. 

Notably, the conflict in Gaza, which began after a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel in October 2023 that killed over 1,100 people and resulted in more than 200 captives, has led to widespread devastation. Israeli military operations have reportedly resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since the escalation began.

By Khagan Isayev