US conducts fourth wave of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

According to Pentagon officials, the US has launched another series of strikes on Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. American forces targeted 14 Houthi missiles that may have been intended for attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. These strikes were carried out using Tomahawk missiles fired from US Navy vessels. This action comes shortly after the US designated the Houthis as "global terrorists." US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan explained that this decision was made in response to ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the region. The Houthis began attacking merchant vessels in November, claiming that they were retaliating against Israel's military operation in Gaza. Since then, they have launched numerous attacks on commercial tankers passing through the Red Sea, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. In response, the US and UK conducted a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in January, with support from Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands, and Canada. These strikes were initiated after the Houthi forces ignored an ultimatum to cease their attacks in the region. The recent strikes on Houthi targets occurred following additional attacks on commercial shipping. The group targeted a US-owned and operated vessel, the M/V Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden using a one-way drone. The ship sustained some damage but no crew members were harmed. Earlier in the week, the Houthis hit another US vessel with a ballistic missile, marking their first successful attack on an American ship since their campaign began. US officials have stated that these strikes were conducted as a preemptive measure and destroyed weapons that were about to be launched by the militants. Centcom, the US Middle East command, emphasized that these actions were necessary to protect merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. According to Centcom's commander, Gen Micheal Kurilla, the US will continue to take action against the Houthis as long as they pose a threat to international mariners and disrupt commercial shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea and surrounding areas. Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that escalated in 2015 when the Houthis seized control of significant portions of the western part of the country. In response, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the internationally recognized government's rule. The conflict has resulted in over 160,000 deaths and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with 21 million people, or two-thirds of the population, requiring some form of assistance. The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed that it was not involved in the recent wave of strikes.