Recent reports indicate that the United States has carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen's central province of Al Bayda. The strikes, which occurred shortly after the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a US-owned oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, targeted Houthi military barracks and facilities in the Mukayras district of Al Bayda.
Yasser Jahlan, a local government official, confirmed the strikes, stating that three strikes took place before dawn on Tuesday. The US Central Command also issued a statement, acknowledging the strikes and indicating that they successfully destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared for launch from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
This development follows an incident on Monday when a US-owned container ship was hit by a missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. In response, the Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a new attack on a Greek-owned, Malta-flagged freighter named ZOGRAFIA in the Red Sea. According to the Houthi statement, the attack was prompted by the ship's alleged disregard of warnings as it continued its course toward Israel.
The Houthi group has been escalating its attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, utilizing armed boats, drones, and missiles. This has raised concerns about maritime security in a critical global trade route. Maritime authorities are advising all ships transiting the Red Sea to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant against potential threats.
The Houthis have held control over much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since the ousting of the Yemeni government in 2014. The situation in the region remains tense, with ongoing geopolitical implications.
(With Agency Inputs)
