US escalates strikes against Houthis

News

Thu, 12-09-2024 09:42 PM, Aden

Aden (South24)

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have conducted a series of military operations over the past week, targeting sites and military systems belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

CENTCOM said that the operations aimed to secure freedom of international navigation and protect commercial ships and coalition forces in the region.

September 3	US Central Command announced it had destroyed a Houthi missile system that posed an imminent threat to US and coalition forces, as well as commercial ships in the region. The operation was carried out in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
September 6	US forces destroyed a Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and a support vehicle in a strike that CENTCOM said would limit the operational capabilities of the Houthi militia.
September 8	Central Command targeted three Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles and two missile systems in another strike.
September 9	US operations continued with the destruction of two additional missile systems, a support vehicle, and a Houthi drone over the Red Sea.
September 10	US forces destroyed five uncrewed aerial vehicles and two missile systems in one of the largest operations in recent weeks.
September 11	In the latest strike, Central Command announced the destruction of another Houthi missile system. By: South24 Center

The Houthis claimed on Tuesday, September 10, that a US-UK bombing targeted a school in Taiz Governorate in North Yemen on Monday, killing two female students and wounding nine others.

The Houthi-controlled Saba News Agency reported that US-UK forces launched the raid on a school in the Al-Jund area of Taiz Governorate, leading to the deaths and injuries, and causing 13 other female students to faint.

The US and UK have not yet officially commented on these allegations.

The escalation in US strikes coincides with a decrease in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, following the attack and burning of the oil tanker Sounion on August 21.

The tanker remains a grave environmental threat, with European efforts underway to prevent the leakage of 150,000 tons of crude oil into the Red Sea.

The Houthis also announced the downing of two US MQ-9 Reaper drones on September 7 and 10 in the skies of North Yemen, bringing the total number of such drones they claim to have shot down to nine, according to Houthi reports.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87) sails in the Gulf of Aden Nov. 25, 2023. US Navy Photo

US escalates strikes against Houthis