United States Central Command announced Thursday that joint strikes were carried out against dozens of Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen as part of a multinational response to the repeated Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea.
In a statement released on social media, Central Command explained that the strike was conducted Thursday at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) by U.S. forces in coordination with the United Kingdom, as well as support from Canada, Australia, Bahrain, and the Netherlands. Central Command explained that the joint strikes were meant to “degrade” the ability of the Houthis to “continue their illegal and reckless attacks on U.S. and international vessels and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.”
“This multinational action targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles,” Central Command stated.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, U.S. Air Forces Central and Combined Forces Air Component Commander Ninth Air Force, noted that U.S. forces in the Middle East conducted strikes against “over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems.”
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According to Grynkewich, more than 100 “precision-guided munitions” were used in Thursday’s strikes. Grynkewich explained the strikes were a “coalition air and maritime strike” with support from “across the region.” He noted that U.S. Naval Forces Central Command aircraft and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles were launched from “surface and sub-surface platforms.”
Providing context to Thursday’s joint strikes, Central Command said Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have tried harassing and attacking 27 ships in international waters since October 17, 2023. Central Command noted that the “illegal incidents” have included attack drones, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Central Command also made it clear that Thursday’s strikes were “separate” from Operation Prosperity Guardian, the joint coalition of more than 20 nations that was recently unveiled by the Pentagon.
In Thursday’s statement on social media, General Michael Erik Kurilla from U.S. Central Command, warned the “illegal and dangerous actions” of the Houthis “will not be tolerated.”
He added, “We hold the Houthi militants and their destabilizing Iranian sponsors responsible for the illegal, indiscriminate, and reckless attacks on international shipping that have impacted 55 nations so far, including endangering the lives of hundreds of mariners, including the United States.”
A video posted on social media by Sky News shows footage of Thursday’s joint strikes.
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