DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – US military B-2 long-range bombers began Thursday morning targeting underground bases used by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, officials said.
It was not yet clear what damage was caused in these strikes.
However, it is very rare for the B-2 Spirit to be used in strikes against the Houthis, who have been attacking ships in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip for months.
The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reported airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. They also reported strikes around the Houthi base in Saada. They did not provide immediate details on the damage or casualties.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the B-2 bombers targeted “five strong underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” The strike was also seen as an indirect warning to Iran, a major benefactor of the Houthis that has twice targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks in the past year.
“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries want to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried, fortified, or fortified they are,” Austin said.
Austin and the US military’s Central Command did not provide an immediate assessment of the damage done.
The Red Sea has become a battleground for passengers since the Houthis began their campaign to target shipping, which once saw $1 trillion a year pass through it.
The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant ships with missiles and drones since the Gaza war began last October. They seized one ship and sank two in this operation that killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have been intercepted by the US-led coalition in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their targets, including Western warships.
The rebels have said they are 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.
The Houthis also continue to launch missiles at Israel and shoot down a number of American MQ-9 Reaper drones. Rebels have threatened new attacks after Israel attacked Lebanon and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
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