US Strikes Houthi Missiles in Yemen

The United States has conducted airstrikes against Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen today, January 18, as announced by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

According to CNN, this is the fifth strike against Houthi targets in the past week. According to CENTCOM’s statement, the strike was part of an operation aimed at "protecting freedom of navigation and preventing attacks on maritime navigation in the Red Sea.”

The targets were two anti-ship missiles "that were aimed toward the southern Red Sea and were prepared for launch.”

“U.S. forces detected the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time and determined that they posed an immediate threat to commercial and U.S. naval vessels in the region. U.S. forces struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense,” the command’s press release stated on social media platform X.

In December 2023, there was an increase in attacks on international vessels in the Red Sea. This coincided with the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. In the same month, the United States announced the launch of a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

On January 12, the U.S. and the United Kingdom carried out strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.