The US military forces on Tuesday destroyed four anti-ship missiles in Yemen that threatened civilian and military vessels as attacks by Iran-backed Huthi rebels continue despite multiple strikes against them, AFP reported.
In an official statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, “US forces struck and destroyed four Huthi anti-ship ballistic missiles. These missiles were prepared to launch from Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen and presented an imminent threat to both merchant and US Navy ships in the region.”
Notably, it is at least the third time in less than a week that the United States has carried out strikes against the Huthis, who have repeatedly aimed at merchant vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane — attacks the rebels say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.
Last week, the United States and Britain targeted nearly 30 sites in Yemen with more than 150 munitions, while American forces later attacked a Huthi radar site in what was described as “a follow-on action” related to the previous strikes.
The rebels have declared US and British interests “legitimate targets,” and have continued attacks against ships in the Red Sea, as per AFP reports.
CENTCOM said the Huthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes on Tuesday, and that a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier reported that it was hit but remained seaworthy.
The military command also said that American forces seized Iranian-made missile parts en route to the Huthis from a boat in the Arabian Sea in an operation last week.
“This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Huthis since the beginning of Huthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023,” CENTCOM added.
Last month, the United States set up a multinational naval task force to protect Red Sea shipping from the Huthis, who are endangering a transit route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade, and US forces have repeatedly intercepted missiles and drones fired from Yemen in recent weeks.
The Huthis say they have been targeting Israeli-linked vessels, but Washington says dozens of countries have connections to ships that have been attacked.
The latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict began when the Palestinian militant group carried out a shock cross-border attack from Gaza on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, most of them civilians.
(With AFP inputs)
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Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.
