For the third consecutive day, US forces have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.
These preemptive and defensive actions aim to weaken the Iran-backed group’s ability to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The ongoing strikes follow months of Houthi assaults under the guise of supporting Palestinians in Gaza and blocking Israeli, American, and British maritime traffic.
The US Central Command confirmed that in the past 24 hours, its forces destroyed five Houthi drones and two missile systems in areas controlled by the group.
These systems were deemed an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as commercial vessels in the region. The strikes were part of efforts to ensure safe international waters and freedom of navigation.
While the US military did not specify the exact targets, Houthi media reported strikes in Yemen’s Taiz governorate, hitting sites in Al-Taziya and Maqbana districts.
The group claimed that an airstrike near a school caused panic, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others.
The recent wave of US strikes began on Sunday, focusing on coastal regions like the city of Hodeidah and areas east of Ibb, without detailed acknowledgment from the Houthis about the impact of these operations.
These developments coincide with growing fears of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea, where the Greek oil tanker Sonion remains ablaze after a series of Houthi attacks, hindering rescue operations.
The US had launched the “Prosperity Guardian” coalition in December to protect maritime navigation from Houthi threats, followed by airstrikes starting in January.
Since then, the Houthis have faced around 620 airstrikes, with significant focus on Yemen’s coastal areas, resulting in over 60 Houthi casualties.
The Houthis have targeted nearly 185 ships since escalating their maritime attacks, with 34 ships sustaining damage. The group also claimed responsibility for coordinating attacks on Israeli ports with Iraqi factions aligned with Iran.
In February, a Houthi attack sank the British ship Rubymar in the Red Sea, followed by the sinking of the Greek vessel Tutor in June. Another attack in March on the Liberian vessel True Confidence resulted in three deaths and four injuries.
