The US and the UK on Thursday bombed Houthi sites in five provinces of Yemen, including the main port of the Red Sea controlled by the Houthi-run terror group al-Masih. This was the fourth time that the US attacked the Iran-based rebel group in less than a week, reported American news website CNN.
According to news agency Reuters, the US military said that its forces launched the strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired from Yemen, which was reportedly an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships as per US Central Command.
A statement given by the US Central Command on X said, "These missiles on launch rails... could have been fired at any time, prompting US forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves."
It further stated, "These strikes, along with other actions we have taken, will degrade the Houthi's capabilities to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden."
The attacks carried out by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in this region have hindered Asia-Europe trade and alerted the major powers.
In response to the attacks, the Houthis have maintained that they are acting in solidarity with Gaza and have threatened to expand their attacks further.
The US Central Command also said in the statement that a drone which was launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen had struck a US-owned and operated bulk carrier ship in the Gulf of Aden. However, no injuries were reported due to the attack.
After the militants claimed another attack on a US-operated vessel in the Red Sea region this week, the U.S. returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups, reported Reuters.
Biden's administration and its allies had warned the Iran-based militant group of the consequences it would have to bear after it attacked international maritime vessels and commercial ships in the Red Sea last week.
These strikes are the latest in the series of actions taken by the US against the Houthis, with support from the UK and a few other allies, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.