Barran Press
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the destruction of a surface-to-air missile system and a radar belonging to the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the US, within the past 24 hours.
In a statement posted on X (monitored by "Barran Press"), CENTCOM stated that "over the past 24 hours, US Central Command forces successfully destroyed a surface-to-air missile system and a radar belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthis in an area under their control in Yemen."
The statement added that "these weapons were determined to pose an imminent threat to US forces, coalition forces, and commercial vessels in the region." It emphasized that these actions were taken "to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters more secure."
Earlier on Wednesday, Houthi media outlets reported three airstrikes by US and British aircraft targeting the Salif district in the Hodeidah governorate (western Yemen).
Since November 2023, the Houthi group, globally designated as a terrorist organization, has launched missile and drone attacks 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 forced many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.
To deter the Houthis, the US-led "Guardians of Prosperity" coalition, which includes significant British participation, began airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen in January 2024. The Houthi group has expanded its operations to target vessels linked to Washington and London, as per their own announcements.