In this photo released by the US military's Central Command on Feb. 3, 2024, US Central Command forces, alongside UK Armed Forces and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. (Credit: CENTCOM/Handout/AFP)
The US military said Monday it had struck explosive uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) operated by Houthi rebels in Yemen, days after a wave of joint strikes with Britain aimed at stopping continued attacks on international shipping.
"US forces identified the explosive USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
The strikes against the two USVs, essentially explosive-laden drone boats, were carried out at 3:30 pm local time, CENTCOM said, and follow repeated unilateral and joint actions taken by the United States against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, whose attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza have disrupted global trade.
American forces also carried out air strikes against five missiles in Yemen on Sunday – one designed for land attack and the others for targeting ships, the US military said.
Late Saturday, US and UK forces carried out their third wave of joint strikes, which hit 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations, according to a statement by the United States, Britain and other countries that provided support for the operation.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the next day that "these attacks will not deter us from our ... stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
The Houthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.
In addition to strikes against the Houthis, the United States set up a multinational naval task force aimed at protecting shipping on the transit route, which carries up to 12 percent of global trade.
The US military said Monday it had struck explosive uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) operated by Houthi rebels in Yemen, days after a wave of joint strikes with Britain aimed at stopping continued attacks on international shipping.
"US forces identified the explosive USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent...