Navy says targets introduced ‘imminent menace’ as missiles have been ‘ready to launch in the direction of the Crimson Sea’.
The US navy says it carried out 4 “self-defence” strikes towards the Houthis, destroying seven antiship cruise missiles, a cellular ballistic missile launcher and a drone originating from areas of Yemen managed by the Iran-aligned group.
The navy’s Central Command (CENTCOM) mentioned the missiles have been “ready to launch in the direction of the Crimson Sea”, including that it additionally shot down a “one-way assault unmanned plane system” on Wednesday.
It mentioned on Thursday that it had decided the targets introduced an “imminent menace to service provider vessels and to the US Navy ships within the area”.
Feb. 21 Crimson Sea Rollup
On Feb. 21, between 12:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carried out 4 self-defense strikes towards seven cellular Houthi Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles and one cellular Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile launcher that have been… pic.twitter.com/SxSlZWLodK
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 22, 2024
On Thursday, the Israeli navy mentioned its Arrow missile defence system intercepted an air assault from the course of the Crimson Sea as sirens sounded within the port metropolis of Eilat.
In a put up on Telegram, an Israeli military spokesperson didn’t say who was chargeable for the assault. The Houthis have previously claimed to have fired drones and ballistic missiles in the direction of Israel, together with Eilat.
Delivery chaos
The Houthis, who management probably the most populous components of Yemen, have carried out dozens of assaults on vessels with industrial ties to the US, the UK and Israel within the Crimson Sea and Gulf of Aden since November.
US Division of State spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned the Houthis are “behaving like a terrorist organisation – attacking civilians, civilian transport, and harmless mariners”.
The group was nonetheless detaining the crew of the Galaxy Leader, consisting of 25 individuals from 5 nations. The Houthis took management of the ship, reported to be partly owned by an Israeli businessman and crusing beneath the flag of the Bahamas, in November.
“That is piracy,” Miller mentioned on Wednesday.
The Houthis say the strikes are a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Regardless of US-UK retaliatory strikes, they’ve promised to proceed their marketing campaign in solidarity with Palestinians till Israel stops the warfare.
Miller mentioned their assaults on transport vessels are “endangering an already fragile humanitarian state of affairs” and “do nothing to assist the Palestinians”.
The assaults have disrupted worldwide commerce alongside a route that accounts for about 15 p.c of the world’s transport site visitors. A number of transport firms have redirected their vessels across the southern tip of Africa, delaying supply occasions and including an extra 3,000-3,500 nautical miles (6,000km) to their route.
“The Houthis’ assaults are driving up costs and inflicting supply delays in crucial humanitarian objects, akin to meals and medication in locations the place it’s wanted most,” mentioned Miller.
“That is adversely affecting these in want of help all over the world, together with in Sudan, Ethiopia and in Yemen itself,” he added. “Lots of the ships that the Houthis have attacked contained meals, akin to grain and corn, headed for these nations.”
On Tuesday, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam mentioned on X: “What the world is impatiently ready for is just not the militarisation of the Crimson Sea, however somewhat an pressing and complete declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza, for humanitarian causes which can be clear to anybody.”