US Air Force B-2 stealth bombers don conduct precision strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, according to US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. The airstrikes, which happened on Wednesday, target five underground weapons storage locations under Houthi control around the cities of Sanaa and Saada.
The US military say the strikes aim to reduce the Houthis’ ability to attack civilian and military vessels in the region. Austin explain that the operation show the US capability to strike at hidden facilities, no matter how deep or fortified they are.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been launching attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, especially since November. These attacks are part of their solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The US Central Command say no civilian casualties were reported from the strikes. This is the first time B-2 Spirit bombers have been used against the Houthis, though these aircraft have been used in other conflicts like the Kosovo War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.
The Houthis have vowed to retaliate against the US strikes, with their political bureau stating that “the American aggression will not go unanswered.” The situation in Yemen is getting more tense, with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warning of a potential catastrophic regional conflict.
