AL-MUKALLA, Yemen: Yemen’s Houthi issued a stern warning to the US, following a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas.
The strikes were launched by the US military to disable underground storage facilities containing missiles and other weapons used by the Houthis to target ships in international waters. The Houthis responded by vowing to continue their attacks on vessels, declaring their commitment to supporting Palestinians in Gaza and Lebanon.
The US Central Command explained that the airstrikes were aimed at reducing the Houthis’ capability to attack international shipping and US assets in key waterways, such as the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandeb Strait. While there were no reported casualties from the strikes, residents of Sanaa reported large explosions.
In response, Houthi media official Nasruddin Amer condemned the US actions, accusing them of “aggression” and warning that the US would “pay the price” for these strikes. The Houthis, who have launched numerous missile and drone attacks in recent months, claim their attacks are solely against vessels connected to Israel, as a way to pressure Israel amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The escalating situation has caused shipping companies to avoid routes through the Red Sea, and the US has designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, the Houthis are also preparing to prosecute six Yemeni employees of US organizations, whom they have accused of spying.
