The U.S. military conducted a precision airstrike on a Houthi command and control facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, late Monday.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strike targeted a site used by the Houthi rebels as a key hub for coordinating attacks on American naval vessels and merchant ships operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The airstrike is the latest in a series of military actions taken by the U.S. to counter the growing threat posed by the Iran-backed group.
The Houthis’ media office confirmed the attack, acknowledging damage to part of a complex housing their Defense Ministry, but reported no immediate casualties.
This operation comes after heightened tensions in the region, particularly with the Houthis launching a hypersonic ballistic missile earlier in the day towards Israel, setting off sirens across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
The Israeli military confirmed the missile was intercepted outside Israel’s borders by its air defense systems.
However, falling shrapnel caused damage to a roof in east Jerusalem, and five individuals were treated for light injuries after seeking shelter during the missile alert in Tel Aviv and other areas.
The escalation follows an increase in attacks on international shipping by the Houthis, who have intensified their operations since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in November 2023.
The group claims its actions are motivated by solidarity with Palestinians, with a focus on vessels associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K.
However, many of the vessels attacked have no direct ties to the conflict, leading to disruptions in international shipping. Since the start of the campaign, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another, and killed four sailors.
The U.S. and its allies have responded by increasing their military presence in the region, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, to protect critical shipping lanes and counter Houthi assaults.
U.S. forces have frequently conducted airstrikes aimed at degrading the operational capacity of the rebel group and intercepting weapons shipments. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have continued their attacks on both maritime and land-based targets.
Earlier on Monday, an Israeli Navy missile boat intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis over the Mediterranean Sea.
This drone strike, which did not trigger any alarms, marks the latest in a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel since November, with at least six ballistic missiles and five drones launched towards the country.
Israel has retaliated against the Houthi group on two occasions and is reportedly preparing for further strikes following the missile attack aimed at central Israel.
The increasing frequency of attacks by Iranian-backed groups across the region underscores the growing role of the Houthis in the broader Middle Eastern conflict.
The Houthis, along with groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, have been attacking Israeli targets in the name of supporting Palestinians.
In response, the U.S. has reiterated that its military operations aim to safeguard regional security, protect international shipping lanes, and support its partners and coalition forces in the face of mounting threats from these Iran-backed factions.