The United States military has conducted airstrikes on 15 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the targets were associated with Houthi offensive military capabilities, aiming to protect freedom of navigation in international waters and ensure the security of US, coalition, and merchant vessels. The details of the airstrikes were shared on CENTCOM's social media account on Friday.
Earlier, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that the US-UK navy coalition had conducted 15 airstrikes on Houthi military sites across four Yemeni cities: the capital Sanaa, Hodeidah, Dhamar, and Mukayras in the al-Bayda province. According to the Houthi television report, the coalition targeted empty areas within the military sites, and there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The spokesperson for the Houthi-run administration, Hashim Sharaf al-Din, responded to the strikes through al-Masirah TV, declaring that the airstrikes would not deter the group. He also vowed further attacks against Israeli cities and ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yemen's Houthi group has been in control of the capital city, Sanaa, and a significant part of the country since late 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government out of the capital.
Since November of the previous year, the Houthis have carried out sporadic attacks on Israel and disrupted Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea, reportedly to support the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.
In response to these actions, the US-UK coalition stationed in the region has been conducting regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets since January, with the intent of deterring the group's attacks and maintaining stability in the region.
The conflict in Yemen has been marked by years of instability, largely resulting from the struggle for power between the Houthi group and the forces loyal to the former government.
The Houthis, who belong to the Zaidi Shia sect, initially began their campaign against the government in an attempt to address grievances related to political and economic marginalisation. Their success in capturing Sanaa in 2014, however, escalated the conflict to new levels, drawing in regional and international actors.
Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of Arab states, has been heavily involved in supporting the former Yemeni government, while the Houthis have received alleged backing from Iran.
This has effectively turned Yemen into a battleground for a proxy war between regional powers. The involvement of international actors like the US and UK in airstrikes against Houthi targets is a reflection of the global security concerns linked to the conflict, particularly regarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, which is a vital route for international maritime trade.
The Houthi group has, over the past year, increased its attacks on Israeli interests in the Red Sea region. Their actions, they claim, are in solidarity with the Palestinians.
This new front has added to the complexity of the Yemen conflict, dragging Israel into a dispute that was primarily local and regional in nature. The group’s vows to escalate attacks on Israeli cities and ships signal a broader scope of confrontation that could lead to more international military involvement in the conflict.
The US-UK coalition's airstrikes on Houthi positions have been a part of a strategy to neutralise threats in the region and maintain security in crucial shipping lanes.
These airstrikes are aimed not just at defending vessels passing through the Red Sea but also at diminishing the military capacity of the Houthis, who have disrupted shipping and posed threats to international interests.
Despite years of conflict and military campaigns, a peaceful resolution in Yemen still seems distant. Attempts at peace negotiations have repeatedly stalled or failed.
The ongoing airstrikes by international forces and the retaliatory threats from the Houthis suggest that military confrontation will continue, posing ongoing risks to stability in the region.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the worst in the world, with millions facing hunger, displacement, and limited access to medical care. The involvement of powerful international actors, combined with the complexities of regional politics, has only exacerbated the crisis. Airstrikes, blockades, and the destruction of infrastructure have left ordinary Yemenis suffering, with no clear solution in sight.
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