In a significant escalation, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on December 22, 2024, that its air force conducted precision strikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control center belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi group, which is internationally designated as a terrorist organization.

In a statement shared on X (seen by Barran Press), CENTCOM confirmed that these deliberate strikes aimed to disrupt and diminish Houthi operations, particularly their threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden.

During the operation, CENTCOM reported the successful interception of multiple drones and a cruise missile targeting naval vessels over the Red Sea. The strikes involved both air and naval forces, including F/A-18 fighter jets.

Local residents reported that the airstrikes targeted weapon storage sites in the Faj Attan and Naham mountains, resulting in powerful explosions that shook the capital, Sana'a.