The United States military has carried out more strikes in Yemen, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed at the Red Sea and preparing to launch, the US military says.
The US strikes, which took place about 2.30am (2330 GMT) on Wednesday, are the latest against the Iran-backed group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping and followed a larger round of strikes a day earlier.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.
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The attacks have disrupted global shipping and deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilise the Middle East.
“US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region,” the US military’s Central Command said in a statement.
“US forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defence.”
The US ‘focus’
Since the US started striking Houthi military sites in Yemen on January 11, the Pentagon says it has destroyed or degraded more than 25 missile launch and deployment facilities and more than 20 missiles.
It says it has also struck drones, coastal radar, and Houthi air surveillance capabilities as well as weapon storage areas.
“We have been very focused on targeting the kinds of things that they’ve been employing or using to conduct attacks against international shipping and mariners, and that will continue to be our focus,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing on Tuesday.
Ryder noted that the last Houthi attack was on January 18, suggesting the strikes were having an impact.
“Since that time we have taken several self-defence strikes when there was an imminent threat or an anticipated launch,” he said.
US President Joe Biden’s emerging strategy on Yemen aims to weaken the Houthi militants but stops well short of trying to defeat the group or directly confront Iran, the Houthis’ main sponsor, experts say.
The strategy – a blend of limited military strikes and sanctions – appears aimed at punishing the Houthis while attempting to limit the danger of a wider Middle East conflict.