US Military Conducts Precision Strikes on Houthi Weapons Facilities in Yemen

Washington: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Wednesday that the US military targeted five weapons storage locations controlled by the Houthi forces in Yemen. According to a statement from the Defense Secretary, precision strikes were carried out using US Air Force B-2 bombers against hardened underground facilities that housed various weapons components. These components have been used by the Houthis to target both civilian and military vessels in the region. According to Kuwait News Agency, the strikes targeted several underground facilities that the Houthis have utilized to conceal their armaments. The operation showcased the United States' capability to reach even the most fortified underground sites. "This was a unique demonstration of the United States' ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified," Austin stated. The Secretary of Defense highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the Iran-back ed Houthis, who are designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. For over a year, these groups have attacked US and international vessels navigating through key maritime routes such as the Red Sea, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. These illegal activities not only disrupt the free flow of international commerce but also pose environmental risks and endanger civilian and military lives. "At the direction of President Biden, I authorized these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis' capability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect and defend U.S. forces and personnel in one of the world's most critical waterways," Austin added. He emphasized that the US will continue to take decisive actions to defend American lives and assets, deter attacks against civilians and regional partners, and ensure the safety and security of navigation in these strategic waterways for US, coalition, and merchant vessels.