13-1-2024 (WASHINGTON) The United States continued its military response against Houthi militants in Yemen on Friday, following the large-scale airstrikes conducted the previous day, according to a U.S. official. The purpose of Friday’s strike remains unclear, whether it was part of an ongoing effort to further weaken the Houthi rebels’ ability to target commercial ships in the Red Sea or a direct retaliation for the earlier launch of an anti-ship missile that posed no harm.
On Thursday night, the U.S. carried out strikes on 28 Houthi locations in Yemen, which have been linked to the 27 drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The strikes involved Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. Navy destroyers, as well as contributions from British warplanes and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft stationed on the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
Following Thursday’s strikes, Houthi officials had vowed to retaliate against the United States. President Joe Biden, speaking on Friday during a trip to Pennsylvania, referred to the strikes as a “success” and emphasized that the U.S. would continue to respond firmly if the Houthis persist with their “outrageous behavior.” In a statement issued on Thursday, President Biden warned the Houthis that he would not hesitate to take further measures to safeguard American citizens and maintain the free flow of international commerce.
U.S. officials stated on Friday that while assessments of the impact of Thursday’s strikes are still underway, they believe that the Houthi rebels’ capacity to carry out large-scale attacks has been significantly diminished. General Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, expressed confidence that the strikes have degraded the Houthis’ ability to execute a major attack similar to the one they attempted on Tuesday.
Although hoping for a restrained response, General Sims acknowledged the U.S. military’s preparedness in the event of a Houthi retaliation. He stressed that any such attacks would not only affect the Houthis directly but also have broader implications for their partners and associates in the region. General Sims further highlighted that civilian casualties resulting from Thursday night’s strikes are expected to be minimal, as the targeted locations were predominantly in rural areas, including mountainous and sparsely populated regions.
The primary objective of the strikes, as emphasized by General Sims, was to degrade the Houthi rebels’ capability to impede international freedom of navigation in the region’s waters. He affirmed that the operation was focused on weakening their capacity rather than causing casualties. The U.S. military remains confident in the effectiveness of their actions in safeguarding international waterways and maintaining the free flow of maritime commerce.
