U.S. and U.K. Conduct Second Round of Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen
In a joint effort, the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted a second round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The strikes were carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. The goal of these strikes is to degrade the Houthi capability to launch attacks on U.S. and U.K. ships, as well as international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
This recent round of strikes comes after an initial attack earlier this month, where just under 30 locations in Yemen were targeted with over 150 precision-guided munitions. In total, the U.S. has conducted eight rounds of airstrikes against Houthi targets in retaliation for their continued attacks on commercial shipping.
According to a U.S. official, Monday’s strikes were successful and had “good impacts” on the targets. However, it is unknown if there were any casualties among the Houthis. The strikes were launched from air, surface, and subsurface platforms, including Tomahawk land attack missiles and manned aircraft from the U.S.S. Eisenhower. The underground storage facilities that were targeted contained more advanced weaponry than previously targeted sites.
While these strikes have degraded the Houthi’s ability to conduct maritime attacks, U.S. officials acknowledge that they still remain capable of launching further attacks on shipping. The Iran-backed Houthis have been responsible for over 30 attacks on commercial shipping lanes since November, leading some shipping companies to redirect their ships away from the Red Sea.
In an effort to prevent further attacks, the U.S. has taken preemptive measures by striking Houthi missiles as they were being prepared to launch. These preemptive strikes have been part of a larger strategy to destroy the Houthi’s air defense capabilities and enable extensive U.S. surveillance over Yemen. The Houthis claim that their attacks on commercial ships are in protest of the war in Gaza, but U.S. officials have stated that many of the targeted ships have no connection to Israel or its war.
Initially, the U.S. avoided direct military action against the Houthis due to concerns about escalating the conflict in the region. However, it has now been deemed necessary to take direct military action against Houthi targets. In December, the Pentagon announced “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” an international task force composed of about 20 countries that patrol the Red Sea and provide support to commercial ships if needed. This international effort is still in place, but the U.S. has decided that military action is essential to address the Houthi threat.
The strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen highlight the ongoing tensions in the region and the efforts of the U.S. and its allies to protect commercial shipping from attacks. While these strikes have had a significant impact on degrading the Houthi’s capabilities, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks. The international community will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of shipping lanes in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.
David Martin contributed reporting to this article.
Eleanor Watson is a CBS News reporter covering the Pentagon.
