US airstrikes target Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen
Iranian-backed groups in Syria hit too
The US military has launched a series of targeted airstrikes aimed at degrading the military capabilities of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The airstrikes carried out between November 9 and 10, 2024, targeted multiple weapons storage facilities located within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen. These facilities were believed to house a range of advanced conventional weapons, including those used by the Houthis to target US and international military vessels, as well as civilian shipping navigating critical waterways in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Addressing the news media in Washington DC on November 12, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder stated that the operation was a direct response to the Houthis’ repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial and military vessels. He said these attacks, which have occurred in and around the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, have raised significant concerns over regional stability and the safety of vital maritime trade routes.
The airstrikes involving US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F-35C fighter aircraft, were conducted to reduce the Houthis’ ability to threaten regional partners and disrupt international shipping lanes. The F-35C is the first and world’s only long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for US Navy carrier operations.
“As we’ve made clear in the past, we will continue to hold the Houthis accountable for their reckless and illegal actions,” Ryder stated.
“The United States is committed to ensuring the safety of our personnel and our allies, and we will take all necessary actions to protect freedom of navigation in international waters.”
Syria theatre
In addition to the Houthi airstrikes, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces also conducted operations against Iranian-backed groups operating in Syria. On November 12, CENTCOM forces launched strikes against nine targets across two locations linked to Iranian-backed militants. These attacks came in response to a series of hostile actions against US personnel in Syria, carried out over 24 hours, said Ryder.
CENTCOM officials have indicated that these strikes were necessary to degrade the ability of Iranian-backed groups to plan and execute further attacks on US and coalition forces operating in the region.
General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, reaffirmed the US military’s commitment to safeguarding its personnel in the Middle East. “We will continue to take every step necessary to protect our forces and our coalition partners and respond decisively to any threats,” he said in a statement.
Featured image: US Navy personnel attend to a US Air Force F-35C fighter jet aboard a US aircraft carrier at an undisclosed location. Credit: Lockheed Martin
Last Updated on 2 months by Arnold Pinto
