Navy says targets offered ‘imminent menace’ as missiles had been ‘ready to launch in direction of the Pink Sea’.
The US navy says it performed 4 “self-defence” strikes towards the Houthis, destroying seven antiship cruise missiles, a cell ballistic missile launcher and a drone originating from areas of Yemen managed by the Iran-aligned group.
The navy’s Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the missiles had been “ready to launch in direction of the Pink Sea”, including that it additionally shot down a “one-way assault unmanned plane system” on Wednesday.
It stated on Thursday that it had decided the targets offered an “imminent menace to service provider vessels and to the US Navy ships within the area”.
Feb. 21 Pink Sea Rollup
On Feb. 21, between 12:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces performed 4 self-defense strikes towards seven cell Houthi Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles and one cell Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile launcher that had been… pic.twitter.com/SxSlZWLodK
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 22, 2024
On Thursday, the Israeli navy stated its Arrow missile defence system intercepted an air assault from the path of the Pink 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 direction of Israel, together with Eilat.
Delivery chaos
The Houthis, who management essentially 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 Pink Sea and Gulf of Aden since November.
US Division of State spokesperson Matthew Miller stated 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 international locations. 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 stated 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 battle.
Miller stated their assaults on transport vessels are “endangering an already fragile humanitarian scenario” 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 instances and including an additional 3,000-3,500 nautical miles (6,000km) to their route.
“The Houthis’ assaults are driving up costs and inflicting supply delays in essential humanitarian gadgets, corresponding to meals and medication in locations the place it’s wanted most,” stated Miller.
“That is adversely affecting these in want of help around the globe, together with in Sudan, Ethiopia and in Yemen itself,” he added. “Most of the ships that the Houthis have attacked contained meals, corresponding to grain and corn, headed for these international locations.”
On Tuesday, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam stated on X: “What the world is impatiently ready for isn’t the militarisation of the Pink Sea, however quite an pressing and complete declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza, for humanitarian causes which might be clear to anybody.”