According to the U.S., U.S. forces successfully launched operations against Houthi terrorist assets in Yemen late this week. The command center for operations in the Middle East is called Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a June 14 briefing, CENTCOM stated that the Iranian-backed group had been able to "target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping" since the U.S. military had damaged seven radar systems in Houthi-controlled portions of Yemen.
It did not elaborate on how the sites were demolished.
According to CENTCOM, in addition to the assaults on the radars, American troops destroyed two Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea and one flying drone that was launched by Houthi forces from Yemen.
The Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the crowded Red Sea and Gulf of Aden maritime channels were preceded by the US strikes.
The Houthis fired two cruise missiles at ships into the Gulf of Aden on June 13. The bulk cargo vessel MV Verbena, which was carrying wood building material to Italy and was owned and operated by Poland and flown under the flag of Palau, was hit by both missiles. One civilian sailor was hurt when flames broke out as a result of the missile strikes.
CENTCOM reports that the crew of the MV Verbena put out the fire and continued their passage across the Gulf of Aden. From a neighboring U.S. vessel, the injured sailor was airlifted for medical attention.
The missile strike came after a drone boat assault on the Greek-owned and operated bulk cargo transport MV Tutor, which was flying the Liberian flag. The impact left one civilian sailor missing and resulted in "severe flooding and damage" to the ship's engine room.
The crew members of the MV Tutor were saved after leaving the ship by American and coalition troops, which included the guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) of the Pentagon has released a study stating that since mid-February, commercial travel via the Red Sea has decreased by ninety percent.
The DIA reports that Houthi forces had assaulted eighteen ships between November 2023 and March of this year.
As tensions in the region increased due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthi maritime aggressions started. Although many of the victims of the terrorist organization's attacks are not even connected to Israel, the group has claimed that its operations are reprisal for Israel's campaign in Gaza.
“The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” CENTCOM said, condemning the group’s “malign and reckless behavior.”
“The ongoing threat to international commerce caused by the Houthis in fact makes it harder to deliver badly needed assistance to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza,” the command reads. “The United States will continue to act with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and degrade their military capabilities.”
