The Pentagon stated that the US military attacked 15 targets controlled by the Houthi group in Yemen on Friday (October 4). Local residents reported explosions at military outposts and airports.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement that around 5 p.m. local time, the US military targeted 15 Houthi objectives, including “offensive military capabilities.”
Centcom is the geographic Unified Combatant Command responsible for directing military actions in the Middle East and Central Asia.
The statement added, “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation, making international waters safer for US, coalition, and commercial vessels.”
However, the Pentagon did not specify whether the attack targets included missiles, drones, or radar capabilities.
Since November, Iran-backed Houthi militants have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea. The group claims that their actions are to support Palestinians in Gaza, pressuring Israel to end military operations against Hamas.
Houthi militants insist that their targets are vessels associated with Israel, the US, or the UK, but many attacked ships have little to no relation to these countries. They have sunk two ships, seized another, and killed at least 4 sailors.
The attacks by Houthi militants have disrupted global trade, forcing companies to reroute their fleets.
Al Masirah TV, controlled by the Houthis, stated that the attack locations included the capital Sanaa, the airport in the port city of Hodeida, southern Dhamar city, and southeastern Bayda province in Yemen.
Local residents stated that the targets in Bayda province were several Houthi military outposts.
The Houthi militants blame the attacks on US and UK forces, but the UK denies involvement.
A few days ago, Houthi militants shot down a US military drone flying over Yemen and threatened to “escalate military operations” against Israel.
Last week, the group claimed to have attacked US warships. Several US officials stated that the Houthis fired more than 6 missiles and 2 drones at three US vessels sailing in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but all were intercepted by Navy destroyers.