ALBAWABA - In a statement released on X, formerly Twitter, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced striking against Houthi-controlled sites Wednesday.
"U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen," the statement reads.
CENTCOM stressed that these strikes aim to degrade the Houthi’s capabilities to continue their "reckless attacks" on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
CENTCOM Commander, Michael Erik Kurilla, said: "The actions by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists continue to endanger international mariners and disrupt the commercial shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea and adjacent waterways,".
These strikes come following the U.S. statement that it will be re-listing the Yemeni militant group, the Houthis, as specially designated global terrorists.
A report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed plans of the Biden administration's intention to relist Yemen's Houthis group as specially designated global terrorists.
This move comes shortly after the U.S. started responding to the Houthis attacks in the Red Sea on trade vessels crossing through Bab al-Mandab Strait through the Gulf of Aden.
On Wednesday, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the US would continue to take military action to prevent further attacks.
"They are exploiting this situation to conduct attacks against the ships and vessels from more than 50 countries ... around the world. And so we’re going to continue to work with our partners in the region to prevent those attacks or deter those attacks in the future," Ryder said.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
In the most recent series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Malta-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, while the US says it has launched a new strike on Houthi targets amid rising tensions around the key waterway.
"A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound," maritime risk management firm Ambrey said in an alert on Tuesday.
Yahya Sarea, Houthis’ military spokesperson, said in a statement that they targeted the Zografia ship with naval missiles on Tuesday as it was heading to Israel, resulting in a "direct hit".
