The US Secretary of Defense said Lloyd Austin In a statement that “American forces It targeted a number of underground facilities belonging to the Houthis, which contain various weapons components of the same types used by them. The Houthis To target civilian and military ships throughout the region.
He added, “American forces, including bombers.” B-2 Today, the US Air Force launched precise strikes against five fortified underground weapons storage sites, according to Agence France-Presse.
The American minister explained that this bombing constituted “a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our opponents seek to keep out of our reach, regardless of how deep underground, solid, or fortified they are.”
The United States and Britain have previously repeatedly launched strikes on Houthi sites with the aim of limiting the ability of these pro-Iranian rebels to target ship traffic in the waters off Yemen. Yemen.
but Houthi attacks On merchant ships Red Sea The Gulf of Aden continued despite all these raids.
The American Minister stressed in his statement that “the use of… Long-range stealth bombers “The B-2 Spirit demonstrates the United States’ global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere.”
Austin noted that he gave “permission to launch these precise strikes based on directives from the president.” Biden “With the aim of weakening the Houthis’ ability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect and defend American forces and personnel in one of the most important waterways in the world.”
In turn, the US Central Command issuedCentcom“, which is responsible for the American forces operating in the Middle East, issued a statement in which it confirmed that there were no initial indications that its raids on Houthi positions on Wednesday caused civilian casualties.
The attack comes after it was carried out US Army Earlier this month there were 15 strikes against targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, where residents reported explosions at military sites and an airport, according to Reuters.
The Houthis have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November, and say their operations aim to support the Palestinians in the year-long war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. They sank two ships, captured another, and killed at least 4 sailors.
For its part, Houthi media reported that the American-British bombing targeted the areas of TV, Al-Hafa, and Jurban, with 6 raids, north and south of the capital. SanaaAnd 9 other raids targeted the Kahlan and Al-Abla areas, east of the city SaadaThe Houthi stronghold.
Houthi media outlets explained that Sanaa was subjected to three waves of American-British raids.
Later, Ali Al-Qahhoum, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said, “We tell America and Britain that our capabilities are increasing, the response is coming, the target bank is wide, and they must bear the strikes.”
He added, “The aggression against Yemen is a failed attempt to protect Israel… and to discourage us from supporting Gaza and Lebanon.”
