THE United States has launched a series of airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi revels, hitting more than a dozen targets in Yemen.
Military aircraft and warships on Friday bombed extremist bases and weapons installations in five locations, only days after American warships were attacked in the Red Sea.
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The exact number of targets was not yet available as the mission was just ending.
The joint op with the British military indicates a serious escalation, with the Middle East still waiting to see if Israel will strike against Iran for the rocket strikes earlier this week.
Operations were confined to shipping lanes and military base targets, a US official said.
According to Houthi media, seven strikes targeted the airport in Hodeida, a key port city, as well as the Katheib area, which hosts a Houthi-controlled military base.
Additionally, four strikes hit the Seiyana area in Sanaa, the capital, while two more targeted Dhamar province.
The Houthi media office also reported three air raids in Bayda province, located southeast of Sanaa.
The rebels launched over half a dozen ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and two drones at three US vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but all were intercepted by Navy destroyers, according to multiple US officials.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet publicly released.
The strikes come just days after the Houthis threatened escalating military operations targeting Israel after they apparently shot down a US military drone flying over Yemen.
And just last week, the group claimed responsibility for an attack targeting American warships.
Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza started last October.
They have seized one vessel and sunk two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors.
Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.
The group has maintained that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK to force an end to Israels campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
But many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
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Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?
The Shia militant group who now controls large swaths of Yemen spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
In October, the rebel group began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas.
In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.
The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.
The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.