US Defense Secretary Austin Orders Precision Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen
The United States military recently carried out precision strikes on five underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The strikes, conducted by US Air Force B-2 bombers, targeted facilities used by the Iran-backed Houthis to store weapons components used in attacks on civilian and military vessels in the region.
Austin emphasized the importance of targeting these hardened underground facilities to degrade the capabilities of the Houthis and protect US forces and personnel in critical waterways. The strikes were aimed at countering the Houthis’ destabilizing behavior and disrupting their attacks on international trade.
Despite the escalation of violence in the region, the US Central Command confirmed that there were no civilian casualties from the bombing raids. The strikes come amidst a warning from the UN special envoy for Yemen that the country is at risk of being further embroiled in the military conflict in the Middle East.