The United States military claims to have targeted over 800 locations since it began its sustained air and naval attacks against the Houthi group in Yemen on March 15. In a statement released on Sunday, the US Central Command asserted that it has “eliminated hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders.” The United States contends that its actions are aimed at ending the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthis to shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
According to Yemen’s Houthi movement, which exercises control over extensive areas of the country, the latest US strike on the capital Sanaa on Sunday caused the deaths of at least eight individuals, including women and children.
Last month, US President Donald Trump authorized large-scale strikes against areas under Houthi control, warning that they would face “complete annihilation.” He also cautioned Iran against arming the group, a claim that Iran has consistently denied. On Sunday, it was reported that the US military had targeted weapons storage and production facilities, but refused to disclose further details about its ongoing operations. The US stated that pressure would be intensified until the Houthis cease their attacks on ships.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked numerous merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden using missiles, drones, and small boat assaults. These actions have resulted in the sinking of two vessels, the capture of a third, and the loss of four crew members. The Houthis have asserted that their actions are in support of Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Despite the presence of Western warships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels, as well as previous rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden, the Houthis have not been deterred.
Upon taking office in January, Trump designated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” a designation that the Biden administration had removed, citing the necessity to alleviate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Over the past decade, Yemen has been ravaged by a civil war that intensified when the Houthis seized control over the country’s north-west region from the internationally recognized government. This prompted a Saudi-led coalition, with US support, to intervene in an attempt to restore the government’s rule. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 150,000 people and triggered a humanitarian crisis, with 4.8 million individuals displaced and 19.5 million (half of the population) in need of some form of aid.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qw274w72vo
