The US military claimed on Wednesday that its forces carried out strikes on 14 Houthi missiles prepared for launch from Yemen, marking the fourth day of US strikes in less than a week.
U.S. Central Command tweeted that the Houthi missiles posed an immediate threat to merchant boats and US Navy ships in the region.
“These missiles on launch rails … could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves”, the report said.
It went on to say, “These strikes, along with other actions we have taken, will degrade the Houthi’s capabilities to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden”.
Since November, attacks on regional ships by Iran-allied Houthi militias have hampered trade between Asia and Europe and frightened global powers. The US strikes are intended to reduce the Houthis’ ability to launch attacks in the Red Sea.
However, the Houthis, who govern the majority of Yemen, claim they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and have pledged to escalate their attacks.
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