News
By Alex Oliveira
Published
Feb. 4, 2024, 4:31 p.m. ET
The US launched a strike for the third consecutive day against Iran-backed terrorists, destroying a Houthi missile that was deemed to pose an imminent threat to Navy ships in the Red Sea. The extremist group has vowed to seek revenge in response to the US action.
The strike, executed at 4 a.m., was a self-defense measure against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile that was poised to target ships in the Red Sea, according to an announcement from US Central Command via a tweet.
The decision to strike was based on the determination that the missile, located in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, posed a threat to the safety of nearby Navy and trade ships, as specified by Central Command.
The statement also emphasized that the action aimed to safeguard the freedom of navigation, thereby enhancing the safety and security of U.S. Navy vessels and merchant ships in international waters.
Following the strike, a Houthi spokesman reiterated the group’s claim that its ongoing campaign, which involves attacking and hijacking trade ships in the Red Sea, is solely intended to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The spokesman also issued a warning of retaliation in response to the US strike.
The US and UK forces targeted multiple Houthi sites in Yemen over the weekend. MOD/AFP via Getty Images
The recent US strike on Sunday followed a period of heightened tensions between the Houthis and American forces in the region.
On Saturday, US and UK forces carried out strikes at over 30 Houthi targets across 10 different locations in Yemen, which included weapons storage facilities and command centers used by the terrorists to coordinate their activities in the Red Sea.
A day earlier, US forces successfully neutralized 11 armed Houthi drones that had either been launched or were in the process of being prepared for launch.
Houthi forces have been disrupting trade ships in the Red Sea for several months. HOUTHIS MEDIA CENTER HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
US and UK aircraft and missiles have been targeting Houthi installations across Yemen since Friday. MOD/AFP via Getty Images
The airstrikes were carried out in conjunction with a comprehensive US operation against other Iran-linked groups in Iraq and Syria.
In response to a drone strike by the extremist groups that resulted in the deaths of three US service members at a base in Jordan last weekend, overnight airstrikes on Friday targeted at least 85 locations associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, resulting in the deaths of at least 39 individuals and injuries to many others.
Tehran characterized the strikes as violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity, while US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that they marked the beginning of the American response to the Jordan attack.
“This is the start of our response,” stated Defense Secretary Austin.
“The president has directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks on U.S. and Coalition Forces,” he affirmed in a statement. “We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our forces, and our interests.”
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