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The United States military has reported conducting strikes on over 800 targets since the initiation of extensive air and naval operations against the Houthi movement in Yemen on March 15.
In a recent statement, US Central Command highlighted that these operations have resulted in the deaths of “hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders.”
US officials assert that the actions are aimed at mitigating the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthis to maritime trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Within Yemen, the Houthis, who have control over significant territories, reported that a US airstrike on the capital city, Sanaa, led to the deaths of at least eight individuals, including women and children.
Last month, President Trump authorized extensive strikes on Houthi-controlled regions and indicated that the group would face “complete annihilation.”
Additionally, he has cautioned Iran against providing support to the Houthis, a claim that Tehran has consistently denied.
On Sunday, the US military specified that munitions storage and production sites were among the targets of their operations; however, they refrained from disclosing detailed information about ongoing activities.
The US has vowed to “continue to ramp up the pressure” until Houthi aggression towards maritime vessels ceases.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched multiple attacks against merchant ships using missiles, drones, and small vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These assaults have resulted in the sinking of two ships, the capture of another, and the deaths of four crew members.
In their rationale, the Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, often asserting—sometimes inaccurately—that they are only targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK.
Despite the deployment of Western naval forces in the region intended to safeguard merchant ships, as well as previous US strikes against military objectives authorized by former President Biden, the Houthis have remained undeterred.
After his inauguration in January, President Trump reclassified the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” a designation that the Biden administration had previously lifted, citing the need to address Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
The civil war in Yemen, which has persisted for a decade, escalated when the Houthis overtook the northwest region from the internationally recognized government, prompting a Saudi-led coalition—backed by the US—to intervene in an attempt to restore the government’s authority.
This prolonged conflict has reportedly resulted in over 150,000 deaths and has generated a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing 4.8 million individuals and leaving 19.5 million—roughly half of Yemen’s population—in need of various forms of assistance.
Source
www.bbc.com