The United States has executed a fresh military strike against a Houthi target in Yemen, as confirmed by two defense officials. This latest action was carried out from a US Navy ship, focusing on a Houthi radar installation.
This strike follows closely after a series of overnight airstrikes by American and British forces, using planes, ships, and submarines. These earlier strikes were in response to continuous attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on shipping in the Red Sea.
The context of these military actions involves recent reports of “suspicious” small boats approaching merchant ships near Yemen. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident where two small boats trailed a vessel for over an hour, approximately 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden in Yemen. Though no weapons were observed, the approach was deemed suspicious.
These developments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with the Houthi movement in Yemen intensifying after years of conflict. Experts warn that military action alone may not be sufficient to address the complexities of the situation in Yemen.
In a related development, two US Navy sailors have been reported missing at sea during operations off the coast of Somalia. US Central Command has initiated search and rescue operations to locate the sailors. For security reasons, further details about the operation have not been released.
On Friday, the US Navy issued a cautionary notice to American-flagged vessels, advising them to avoid areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours. This advisory follows the vow of fierce retaliation by Yemen’s Houthis for the recent US-led strikes, raising concerns about a possible escalation of conflict in a region already affected by ongoing tensions, including Israel’s war in Gaza.
US military and White House officials anticipate possible retaliatory actions by the Houthis in response to the airstrikes.
