2024-02-04T04:47:54+00:00
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/ A joint statement said that the United States and Britain carried out strikes on Saturday on 36 targets linked to the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen.
The statement added that underground facilities belonging to the Houthis were targeted, including weapons depots, systems, missile launchers and other capabilities.
For its part, the US Central Command, CENTCOM, said it carried out defensive strikes against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to be launched against ships in the Red Sea.
In a statement, CENTCOM said: “US forces have identified cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they pose an imminent threat to US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the area.
“This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels,” the statement added.
The Pentagon said the strikes targeted underground weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and other capabilities used by the Houthis to attack shipping in the Red Sea. It added that the strikes targeted 13 sites across the country.
“This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to suffer further consequences if they do not cease their unlawful attacks on international shipping and naval vessels,” said US Defense Secretary Austin Lloyd.
For his part, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps confirmed, “This is not an escalation.” He added, “We have already successfully targeted launch pads and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our recent strikes have further undermined Houthi capabilities.”
The American bombing targeted Houthi sites in a number of Yemeni governorates, including the capital, Sanaa, Taiz, Hajjah, Al Bayda, and other governorates.
The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah channel reported that a new series of strikes targeted six Houthi-controlled provinces in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, on Saturday night, accusing the United States and Britain of carrying them out.
The channel reported on social media shortly before midnight (9:00 GMT) that “the US-British aggression raids targeted the Al-Nahdain and Attan areas south of the capital.”
Witnesses told AFP they heard loud explosions and heavy aircraft flying overhead. Later, the coalition announced other strikes targeting the governorates of Hajjah, Dhamar, Al Bayda, Taiz and Hodeidah.