WASHINGTON — U.S. fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier struck three underground storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen late Friday, according to a U.S. official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public, said the ship is in the Red Sea.
Strikes and explosions were seen and heard in Sanaa on Friday night, according to witnesses and videos, some circulating on social media. Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over the Houthi-controlled capital.
There was no official confirmation of the injured or the origin of the explosions. Yemeni TV station Al-Masirah, which is linked to the Houthis, reported strikes hitting the city.
In a statement late Friday, U.S. Central Command said its forces also destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Central Command also said Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the Red Sea, but no injuries or damage were reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which are allied with Iran and control much of the country’s north and west, have launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which the rebels describe as an effort to pressure Israel to end its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis have kept up their campaign of attacks despite two months of U.S.-led airstrikes.
The United States military recently conducted airstrikes on storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting sites believed to be housing weapons and other supplies used by the rebel group. The strikes were carried out by US fighter jets in coordination with the Yemeni government, as part of ongoing efforts to combat the Houthi insurgency in the region.
The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have been engaged in a bloody conflict with the Yemeni government for several years. The group has been accused of committing numerous human rights violations, including targeting civilians and using child soldiers. The United States has been providing support to the Yemeni government in its fight against the Houthi rebels, including intelligence sharing and military assistance.
The recent airstrikes on storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas are part of a broader strategy to weaken the rebel group’s capabilities and disrupt their operations. By targeting weapons and supplies stored in these facilities, the US military aims to degrade the Houthi rebels’ ability to launch attacks and sustain their insurgency.
The airstrikes have drawn criticism from some human rights groups, who have raised concerns about the potential impact on civilians living in the targeted areas. The Yemeni people have already been suffering from a humanitarian crisis, with widespread food shortages, lack of access to clean water, and a collapsing healthcare system. The airstrikes could exacerbate these challenges and further endanger the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Despite these concerns, the US military maintains that the airstrikes were conducted with precision and care to minimize civilian casualties. The targeting of storage facilities was intended to disrupt the Houthi rebels’ ability to carry out attacks and threaten stability in the region. The United States remains committed to supporting the Yemeni government in its efforts to restore peace and security to the country.
As the conflict in Yemen continues to escalate, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law. The United States and its allies must work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while holding accountable those responsible for human rights abuses. Only through a concerted effort to address the root causes of the conflict and promote dialogue and reconciliation can lasting peace be achieved in Yemen.
