In the last 24 hours, US forces have destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to a statement by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM announced on the platform “X” that the strikes were conducted because the drones and the vehicle posed an imminent threat to coalition forces and commercial ships in the region.
The actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and to ensure the safety and security of international waters.
The statement emphasized that the continuous malicious and reckless behavior of the Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
This military action highlights ongoing tensions in the region, where the Houthis, an armed group based in Yemen, have been involved in a protracted conflict with the Yemeni government and its allies, including a Saudi-led coalition supported by the United States.
The conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, prompting a military intervention by the coalition in 2015.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are crucial maritime routes for global trade, and any threat to navigation in these waters can have significant economic and security implications.
The Houthis have previously targeted shipping lanes and vessels, raising concerns about the safety of maritime operations in the area.
In a related development, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council condemned the Houthis for seizing three Yemenia Airways planes in Sanaa, labeling it a “full-fledged terrorist operation.” The council announced the formation of a crisis cell to address the issue and reiterated its support for the Central Bank’s measures to protect the banking sector.
The council stated that the hijacking of the financially and administratively independent Yemenia Airways planes by the Houthis is a terrorist act, adding to the group’s severe violations against national and foreign air and sea carriers over the past years.
