Barran Press
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday that its forces executed "multiple and precise" airstrikes on various Houthi weapons storage facilities backed by Iran.
In a statement, CENTCOM reported that the targeted facilities housed advanced conventional weapons used to attack both military and civilian vessels in international waters across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The strikes aimed to reduce the Houthis' capacity to launch reckless, illegal attacks on international shipping and to protect U.S. personnel and regional partners.
CENTCOM indicated that the airstrikes focused on underground, fortified Houthi installations containing missiles and munitions intended for targeting military and civilian ships in the region. The operation involved U.S. Air Force and Navy assets, including long-range B-2 Spirit bombers, which played a key role in the strikes.
The deployment of B-2 bombers marks a significant shift in U.S. military strategy, showcasing the capability to reach critical targets at any time and place. Analysts view this as a qualitative transformation in U.S. operations, particularly given the advanced stealth technology of the B-2, which allows it to penetrate deep into enemy territory.
Following the strikes, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin described the operations as "precise," targeting five underground weapons storage sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. He highlighted that these strikes demonstrate the U.S. ability to target facilities that adversaries try to conceal, no matter how fortified or deeply buried they are.
Austin noted that Iranian-backed Houthis have launched reckless and illegal attacks on U.S. and international vessels over the past year. The strikes were authorized by President Joe Biden to further weaken the Houthis' destabilizing activities and to safeguard U.S. forces in one of the world's most critical waterways.
The statement implied a tacit acknowledgment by the U.S. of Houthi attacks on military vessels, indicating that the strikes serve as a broader message beyond Yemen, as Austin emphasized the U.S. capability to act "anytime and anywhere."
Reports indicate that the U.S. carried out 15 airstrikes, with six targeting positions in Sana'a, including the "Television Camp," "Al-Hafa Camp," and "Jirban Camp," all known for their underground weapons storage. In Saada, nine strikes targeted key sites, including "Kahlan Camp" and "Al-Abla," both utilized by the Houthis for storing missiles and arms underground.
According to sources, the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least seven Houthi militants when they were targeted while moving munitions from a fortified storage site in southern Sana'a. However, the attack did not completely detonate the storage facility, and the Houthis have yet to release an official casualty report.
In response to the strikes, the Houthis issued a statement from their political office, vowing that the attacks "will not go unanswered" and asserting their commitment to continuing support for Palestinians in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On Tuesday, the Houthis reported four airstrikes targeting locations in the Al-Lahiah district of Al-Hudaydah province, following two strikes on Monday in the Al-Salif district of the same province.