US Conducts Strategic Strikes in Yemen Against Iran-Backed Houthi Forces
On Wednesday evening, strategic strikes were executed by the United States in Yemen, specifically targeting Houthi forces supported by Iran. This operation, as announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, aimed at five underground facilities where weapons were stored. B-2 stealth bombers played a pivotal role in the operation by engaging these storage sites. According to information provided by three US defense officials, the targeted facilities contained advanced weapons utilized in attacks against both civilian and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“This operation showcases the United States’ unique capability to strike targets that adversaries assume are well-protected due to their underground location,” stated Austin. He emphasized that “the action underscores the U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit’s ability to deliver strikes against such targets anywhere and whenever required.” This mission marked a significant milestone, being the first instance where B-2 bombers attacked Houthi positions in Yemen since the US commenced its campaign against the Houthi forces.
The B-2 bomber presents a far more robust platform compared to the fighter jets previously deployed against Houthi-held sites, possessing the capacity to carry a substantially larger payload. President Joe Biden directed the authorization of these strikes, according to Austin, to further undermine the Houthis’ operational capabilities after consistent attacks on international and US maritime vessels over the last year. Austin disclosed that the targeted facilities contained various components of weaponry used against ships in the Middle Eastern region. “The Houthis will continuously face consequences for their unlawful and hazardous assaults,” he warned.
Reactions and Regional Tension
The airstrikes, conducted at night, hit the cities of Sanaa and Saada early Thursday in local timing, as reported by Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, sourced through Reuters. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthis’ media office, expressed the group’s determination not to be deterred by US actions. “America will bear the consequences of its aggression against Yemen, and such acts will not sway Yemen’s support for Gaza,” he declared via social media platform X.
For several months, Houthi forces have targeted vessels traversing the Red Sea, a major global shipping corridor, claiming these actions are retaliatory measures in response to Israeli operations in Gaza against Hamas. The Houthi forces, along with Hamas and Hezbollah, form a coalition aligned with Iran that spans several Middle Eastern regions, including Yemen and Syria, and has launched coordinated attacks against Israel and its allies since hostilities emerged.
Context and Broader Implications
The recent US assault unfolds amid prevailing regional tensions. Israel is predicted to respond to a recent missile volley from Iran before the forthcoming US elections of November 5, compounded by ongoing conflicts against Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza, respectively. The latest strike, executed early on a Thursday morning in local time, epitomizes a continued cycle of retaliatory actions between US forces and the Houthis, who have consistently targeted commercial and naval shipping within the region over preceding months.
Concurrently, US military personnel have begun arriving in Israel prior to the deployment of an advanced anti-missile system announced by the US to aid in Israel’s defensive strategies following Iran’s missile strikes. Although prior assaults on Houthi targets were sometimes undertaken in collaboration with the UK, the recent operation was a sole endeavor by the United States, with both US Air Force and Naval assets integrated into the mission, as confirmed by US Central Command.
Throughout the past year, there have been frequent US responses including interception and strikes against Houthi-operated drones and missiles. In September, the Houthis purportedly launched multiple ballistic and cruise missiles, alongside drones, targeting US naval assets, which Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh clarified that none of the Houthi assaults resulted in US naval or personnel casualties, as defensive systems successfully countered the threats.
Prospects of Escalation
Earlier in the month, Houthi capabilities were again targeted by US forces in Yemen, with 15 strategic Houthi objectives under attack. In September, a missile launched by the Houthis penetrated Israeli airspace, yet it harmlessly landed in an uninhabited area, with no incident reports. The event prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow a severe retaliation, labeling the prospective consequences a “heavy price” for the Houthis’ aggressive actions, which subsequently led to retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces on Houthi infrastructure, including power generation sites and ports.
Houthi assaults on Israeli territory have persisted, as declared by the group, with drone offensives conducted in solidarity with Hezbollah, and further missile attacks directed at Israel. In one noted instance, the Israeli defense system successfully intercepted a missile originated from Yemen aimed at central Israel.
Continuous Houthi offensives on commercial marine operations have resulted in numerous fatalities and significant environmental threats. One such attack, in August, on a vessel under the Greek flag led to an extensive oil spill, prompting Pentagon alerts about potential substantial ecological damage. In the wake of such incidents, the US remains committed to deploying considerable military capabilities in the Middle East, which have been mobilized since the escalation of Israeli-Hamas hostilities last October, including a carrier strike group and additional naval destroyers, complemented by a broad assortment of aircraft.
This article has been recently updated to incorporate additional information.