The U.S. military struck more than a dozen Houthis in Yemen on Friday, targeting weapons systems, bases and other supplies of the Iran-backed rebels, U.S. officials confirmed.
Military aircraft and warships bombed Houthi strongholds in about five locations, according to officials.
Seven strikes hit the airport in Hodeida, a major port city, and the Katheib area, which has a military base controlled by the Houthis, Houthi media said. Four other strikes hit the Seiyana area of Sanaa, the capital, and two strikes hit Dhamar province. The Houthi press office also reported three incidents of airstrikes in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa.
The strikes came after the Houthis threatened a “military escalation” against Israel after they shot down a US warplane flying over Yemen. Last week, the group claimed responsibility for attacks against US warships.
Rebels fired more than a dozen cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles and two drones at three US ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but all were intercepted by Navy destroyers, according to several US officials.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been made public.
The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant ships with missiles and drones since the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza began last October. They seized one ship and sank two in this operation that killed four sailors.
Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by the US-led coalition in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their targets, including Western warships.
The group has insisted on targeting ships linked to Israel, the US or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
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