US and UK airstrikes have targeted port cities and smaller communities in western Yemen, resulting in at least 11 deaths and 14 injuries, according to a representative from Yemen’s internationally recognized government who spoke to Reuters.
The US Central Command (Centcom) reported conducting six airstrikes on Monday, which led to the destruction of an unmanned underwater vehicle and 18 anti-ship missiles in territories under Houthi control.
Centcom stated that these weapons posed a direct threat to merchant and US Navy ships in the area, and the airstrikes were aimed at ensuring the safety of international waters and preserving freedom of navigation.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have been causing significant disruptions in global shipping, leading to costly detours for shipping companies and raising concerns about the potential for the conflict between Israel and Gaza to expand and destabilize the broader Middle East.
Despite counteractions by the US, UK, and their allies, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on commercial ships in one of the most crucial maritime routes.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced plans to increase military actions during Ramadan in support of Palestinians in Gaza and mentioned targeting the “US ship Pinocchio” in the Red Sea with missiles, which, according to Centcom, did not result in any damage or injuries.
The Pinocchio, identified in public databases as a Liberian-flagged container ship owned by a company based in Singapore, was not affected by the strikes.
These recent airstrikes occurred shortly after the first reported civilian casualties and loss of a vessel since the Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in November, including the attack on the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated True Confidence, resulting in three crew members’ deaths near the port of Aden.
This follows the sinking of the cargo ship Rubymar, which occurred approximately two weeks after it was struck by a Houthi missile on February 18.
