U.S. strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a 3rd time to thwart Red Sea attacks
globalnews.caYemen, officials said Tuesday, as the Iran-backed rebel group continues to target vessels in the Red Sea.The early morning strikes destroyed four anti-ship missiles that were prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, officials said.The Houthis have not stopped their attacks despite two airstrikes by U.S. and British forces last week that targeted the group’s weapons depots, launching facilities and air defence systems.
The Pentagon had said it was “confident” the earlier strikes had significantly degraded the Houthis’ ability to launch more attacks in the future.The rebel group says the attacks in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the world’s shipping traffic, are in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza who are facing a deadly Israeli military response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
But the missiles and drones launched by the Houthis have been predominantly aimed at western-flagged commercial vessels as well as military ships, which have shot down a majority of the projectiles.U.S. Central Command said Tuesday’s strikes were in direct response to Monday’s attack on the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship.Additionally, officials said a Houthi-launched missile struck the M/V Zografia, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier, just nine hours after the U.S.
airstrikes. No injuries were reported and the Zografia was able to continue its transit through the Red Sea, the officials said.The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade.
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