Sanaa (South24) 

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The US and UK conducted a fresh series of joint air strikes on Monday, against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Sanaa and other governorates in North Yemen.

In a post on social media platform X, US Central Command reported that its forces, along with those of the UK, had struck eight Houthi targets, including missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars, and deeply buried weapons storage facilities.

The statement pointed out that the strikes, which were the largest since January 12, had been carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, and came as part of "ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities in the region".

In a press background briefing held by the US Department of Defense, a senior military official said that approximately 25-30 precision-guided munitions, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, had been fired at targets in eight locations.

A joint statement from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US said the strikes marked the eighth round of attacks on Houthis’ infrastructure in just over 10 days.

"Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways", the joint statement added. 

On Monday, CNN reported that the US has named the ongoing operation to target Houthi assets in Yemen “Operation Poseidon Archer” suggesting a more organized and potentially long-term approach to the operations in Yemen that have been aimed at deterring the militant group from attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Houthi-run media reported that strikes had targeted various locations throughout the city of Sanaa yesterday, including four raids on the Al-Hafa area, four on the Al-Dailami military base, and two on Saraf. Additional raids also targeted Houthi encampments in three locations, namely Al-Jand, Al-Burj in Maqbana in Taiz, and Radaa in Al-Bayda.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea provided further information on the raids in a post on X today, saying that UK-US forces launched 18 strikes yesterday, 12 of which were in Sanaa, three in Hodeidah, two in Taiz, and one in Al-Bayda.

In a statement yesterday before the strikes, Yahya Sarea announced that Houthi forces had targeted the American military cargo ship Ocean Jazz with missiles in the Gulf of Aden. Washington later denied this.