The United States launched another military attack this Friday against the Houthi rebels in Yemenfollowing the large-scale military action carried out yesterday in a joint mission with the United Kingdom, confirmed the United States Central Command (CENTCOM)
The additional attacks carried out Friday night were shorter in scope than those launched the previous day and were directed at a radar used by the rebels. The military action was deployed from the US naval destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) at 3:45 a.m. on January 13 Sana’a time (00:45 GMT) in which Tomahawk land attack missiles were used, CENTCOM explained.
The command detailed that this was “a follow-up action against a specific military target” associated with attacks carried out yesterday designed to degrade the Houthis’ ability to attack ships.
Houthi rebels had fired at least one ballistic missile against a commercial ship sailing in the Red Sea early Friday after U.S. and British military forces launched 73 bombing raids against their military positions in several provinces in Yemen, leaving five casualties in their ranks, according to the insurgents.
CENTCOM did not explain whether the second day of military actions against the rebels was launched alone by the US, or had the support of other nations as was the case with yesterday’s operations. However, he warned that the military operations on Thursday and Friday are completely separate from the measures taken by the military coalition made up of more than 20 nations under the name ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, launched at the end from December.
The two actions are part of a strong escalation of military operations to stop attacks against commercial ships in the Red Seawhich according to the rebel militia are carried out in support of the Palestinians under the Israeli bombardment in Gaza.
Lieutenant Douglas Sims, director of operations of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed this Friday in a press conference that attacks were launched on 28 enclaves in Thursday’s action, supported by 10 countries. “This was exclusively designed to go against the capabilities that are impeding international freedom of navigation,” Sims added to the press, who said that Washington is “pretty confident” that they did a good job.
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For his part, White House Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that The US is not looking for a war in Yemen against the Houthis, supported by Iran. He added that the intention of the president, Joe Biden, is to reduce tension in the region. “We want their attacks to stop.”
This morning, Biden sent a letter to the US Congress on Friday to report the air attack launched yesterday against the Houthis in Yemen, after receiving criticism for not having notified the Legislative Branch before the bombing. The US president warned yesterday in a statement that “I will not hesitate to order additional measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”