Barran Press
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday, July 26, 2024, the destruction of a drone launch site belonging to the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, in a Houthi-controlled area within the past 24 hours.
In a statement posted on X seen by "Barran Press", CENTCOM said: "Over the past 24 hours, US Central Command forces successfully destroyed a Houthi drone launch site in a Houthi-controlled area," without specifying the location.
The statement added: "This site was determined to pose an imminent threat to US forces, coalition forces, and commercial vessels in the region." CENTCOM emphasized that these actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and ensure the safety and security of international waters.
On Wednesday, July 24, CENTCOM announced the destruction of three Houthi missile launch sites in Yemen within the preceding 24 hours.
Since last November, the Houthi group has continued its attacks using missiles and drones against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted several international shipping companies to opt for the significantly longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.
To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have been conducting strikes against Houthi military targets on an intermittent basis.
Since January 12, the number of US and British airstrikes against the Houthis on the ground has reached approximately 560. These strikes have resulted in the deaths of 58 individuals and injuries to 86 others, according to the Houthis.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government maintains that Western airstrikes are ineffective in neutralizing the Houthi threat to navigation and that the most effective solution is to support its armed forces in retaking Hodeidah, its ports, and other areas under Houthi control.
Despite the group's continued adoption of maritime attacks, only three out of 162 ships claimed to have been targeted since last November have reported serious incidents or injuries.