US strikes 15 Houthi targets in Yemen across 5 locations, says military

The US forces struck 15 Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Iranian-backed rebels, the military said.

“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen today (Friday),” AFP quoted the military command responsible for US forces in the Middle East said on social media.

According to The Associate Press, citing US officials, military aircraft and warships bombed Houthi strongholds at roughly five locations.

Citing Houthi-run Al Masirah television network, AFP reported multiple US strikes from Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, where AFP correspondents heard loud explosions.

Additional strikes were also reported in Dhamar, located south of the capital.

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However, details on any resulting damage or casualties were not specified.

Meanwhile, Houthi media reported seven strikes hit the airport in Hodeida, a major port city, and the Katheib area, which has a Houthi-controlled military base. Four more strikes hit the Seiyana area in Sanaa, the capital, and two strikes hit the Dhamar province. The Houthi media office also reported three air raids in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa.

Washington has consistently targeted Houthi positions in Yemen since January in retaliation for the rebels’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

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The Houthis claim these strikes, which have disrupted maritime traffic in this crucial waterway, are aimed at vessels linked to Israel and are meant to express solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

Israel has also conducted strikes in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks, including airstrikes on Hodeida last month that resulted in at least five deaths after the rebels claimed to have targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport with a missile.

The latest strikes occurred just a day after the Houthis announced a drone attack on Tel Aviv. The Israeli military reported intercepting “a suspicious aerial target” over central Israel overnight, though no further details were provided.

On Wednesday, the Houthis said they had fired cruise missiles at Israel, following Iran’s mass bombardment of the country the night before.

The day before, the Houthis damaged two ships in separate attacks off Yemen’s coast.

One ship was hit by a marine drone, puncturing a ballast tank, while a second vessel was damaged by a missile less than three hours later, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The Houthis, who have controlled large swathes of war-torn Yemen for a decade, are part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel and the United States.

The latest strikes came as thousands took to the streets of the capital Sanaa to express solidarity with Palestinians and Lebanese amid attacks by Israel.

“The aggression on the capital and Yemeni governorates after the…solidarity marches with Lebanon and Gaza is a desperate attempt to terrorise our people,” AFP quoted Houthi official Hashem Sharaf al-Din as saying to Al Masirah.

“Yemen will not be deterred by these attacks and will continue its steadfastness in confronting the enemies with all its strength.”

With inputs from agencies