The U.S. carried out its fourth consecutive round of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday, as the Houthis persisted in targeting commercial vessels, a U.S. official confirmed.
The airstrikes specifically targeted multiple sites that were being prepared for launching attacks, according to the official.
This marks the latest in a series of attacks that the Houthis have launched on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19. The attack on Wednesday, along with another attack on Monday, specifically targeted ships owned by the U.S., seemingly in defiance of the previous U.S.-led strikes conducted last Thursday and the subsequent two rounds of strikes that the U.S. has carried out since then.
Last week, the U.S. and U.K., with support from other nations, initiated the first round of strikes, targeting nearly 30 locations and utilizing over 150 different types of munitions.
The U.S. Launches Strikes in Yemen and Houthis Vow to Continue Attacks
In a unilateral move, the United States has carried out two additional rounds of strikes in Yemen. The first strike took place early on Saturday morning and targeted a Houthi radar site. The second round of strikes occurred on Tuesday and destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that were ready to launch. The U.S. Central Command confirmed these strikes in a statement.
Despite the U.S. strikes, the Houthi rebels have declared their intention to continue their attacks in the strategic waterway. The Houthis, who receive funding and equipment from Iran, claim that their attacks are in protest of Israel's war in Gaza. However, U.S. officials have stated that many of the ships targeted by the Houthis have no connection to Israel or its conflict.
When asked about the effectiveness of the U.S. strikes, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder acknowledged that the strikes have "degraded" the Houthis' ability to attack. However, he also noted that the Pentagon anticipated some retaliatory strikes following the U.S. action.
Biden Administration's Efforts to Prevent Escalation of Israel-Hamas Conflict
The Biden administration has been working to prevent the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into a larger and more widespread conflict. However, despite these efforts, there has been a consistent series of attacks against U.S. forces by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, the Houthi rebels have continued their attacks on commercial ships, further complicating the situation.
