US military destroys four anti-ship missiles in Yemen amid Huthi attacks

livemint.com:

Iran-backed Huthi rebels continue despite multiple strikes against them, AFP reported. In an official statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, “US forces struck and destroyed four Huthi anti-ship ballistic missiles.

These missiles were prepared to launch from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen and presented an imminent threat to both merchant and US Navy ships in the region." Notably, it is at least the third time in less than a week that the United States has carried out strikes against the Huthis, who have repeatedly aimed at merchant vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane -- attacks the rebels say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas. Last week, the United States and Britain targeted nearly 30 sites in Yemen with more than 150 munitions, while American forces later attacked a Huthi radar site in what was described as "a follow-on action" related to the previous strikes.

The rebels have declared US and British interests "legitimate targets," and have continued attacks against ships in the Red Sea, as per AFP reports. CENTCOM said the Huthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes on Tuesday, and that a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier reported that it was hit but remained seaworthy.

The military command also said that American forces seized Iranian-made missile parts en route to the Huthis from a boat in the Arabian Sea in an operation last week. "This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Huthis since the beginning of Huthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023," CENTCOM added.