Aden: The United States conducted significant airstrikes against Houthi positions across Yemen on Wednesday, targeting over 50 sites in multiple provinces in the northern, central, and western regions of the country, as reported by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.
The Houthis have not provided details regarding casualties resulting from the U.S. airstrikes and have vowed that these attacks “will not go unanswered.” They further declared their intention to continue targeting vessels linked to Israel or the United States.
On Tuesday night, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident where a vessel was chased by armed individuals in several small boats approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden for about two hours, during which shots were fired. The vessel’s captain altered its course towards the Yemeni coastline, after which the armed craft left the area. According to the UKMTO, the crew is safe and the vessel is continuing to its next destination. This incident marks the first reported event in the area by UKMTO in several months.
Earlier on Sunday, the Houthi group announced that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone, marking the 19th drone it has downed since November 2023. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the drone was targeted while it was conducting operations in Hajjah province, northwest Yemen, using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. He emphasized that the ongoing “US aggression” has not diminished the group’s military capabilities.
The U.S. resumed its air campaign against Houthi forces on March 15, asserting that the strikes aim to deter the group from launching attacks against Israeli and U.S. naval assets in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who control significant portions of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israeli positions since November 2023 in a show of solidarity with Palestinians affected by bombardment in the Gaza Strip.