The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday, September 4, 2024, that its forces had destroyed a missile system belonging to the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, within the past 24 hours.

In a statement released on X, monitored by "Barran Press",  CENTCOM stated: "Over the past 24 hours, US Central Command forces successfully destroyed a missile system in a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen, supported by Iran."

The statement added: "These systems were identified as posing an imminent threat to US and coalition forces, as well as commercial shipping in the region." The action was taken, CENTCOM emphasized, "to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure."

Since November 2023, the Houthis have been carrying out 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 caused many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

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.