Recent airstrikes by the US Central Command targeted more than a dozen Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, including Sanaa and Hodeidah. The Houthis, a Shia group claiming to be the Yemeni government, have been disrupting Israeli and Western shipping in the Red Sea in protest of Israeli actions in Gaza.
The strikes aimed at Houthi military capabilities to safeguard international waters for US, coalition, and merchant vessels. Yemeni media reported multiple strikes in different provinces, with Friday’s bombing marking the first US operation against the Houthis in months.
The Houthis have targeted various ships and expanded their attacks beyond vessels connected to Israel, leading to US intervention to maintain the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Despite US efforts, the Houthis continue to pose a threat, deterring Western shipping via the Suez Canal.
Accusations of being an Iran proxy have been denied by the Houthis, amidst ongoing clashes in the region. The situation remains volatile, with recent missile launches at Israel raising tensions further. Stay updated on this developing story.