In Yemen, the US military attacks 15 sites supported by Iran by the Houthis as tensions rise

The US military targets the Houthis in Yemen, which are backed by Iran. They go after their weapons and bases after attacks in the Red Sea.

In an attempt “to protect freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea, the US military has hit 15 targets in Yemen that are part of the Houthi group, which is backed by Iran.

The Pentagon confirmed that the strikes were done by planes and warships, and explosions were heard in a number of important towns in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

Central Command, which is in charge of US actions in the Middle East, said that the strikes went after important Houthi bases, weapons systems, and equipment. This comes after the Houthis attacked almost 100 ships in the Red Sea since November, sunk two during those strikes. The rebel group said these actions were the result of their anger over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Houthi-backed media confirmed that Sanaa was one of the cities hit by the US strikes. This is the start of fighting again after a time of relative peace. Since fighting between warring groups in Yemen has mostly stopped over the past two years, these kinds of acts haven’t happened in the capital city.

This worsening comes after more threats from the Houthis. The Pentagon said last week that the group launched a “complex attack” on US Navy ships in the Red Sea, but all of the weapons they fired were blocked. Additionally, the Houthis said they shot down a MQ-9 Reaper drone made in the US, which the US military agreed with.

The Houthis have also stepped up their attacks on Israel by sending rockets and drones straight at the country. A drone attack from Yemen hit Tel Aviv in July, killing one person and hurting ten. Last month, the group fired more missiles at Israel, including one that was aimed at the country’s main airport. In response, Israel attacked sites in Yemen.

Early this year, the US, the UK, and 12 other countries started Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect shipping lines in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks. This group is connected to other violent groups in the Middle East that are backed by Iran. These groups include Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.