Washington continues its offensive response.
The Pentagon announced on Saturday that it had “destroyed” a Houthi anti-ship missile, in new strikes described as “self-defense” against these Yemeni rebels who are carrying out repeated attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The United States carried out the strikes around 4 a.m. local time on Saturday, against “a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Gulf of Aden and prepared to be launched,” the US military command in the Middle East said in a statement. -Orient (Centcom).
“U.S. forces determined that the missile posed a threat to U.S. merchant and naval vessels in the area, and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile,” Centcom added, calling the operation “self-defense.” .
Ships related to Israel
These strikes were carried out as part of efforts to “protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on ships at sea”, according to the same press release.
Yemeni rebels say they are targeting “Israel-linked” merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
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American and British forces first struck the Houthis in Yemen on January 12.
Several other strikes have followed since then, including Friday by the American army against missile launchers.
Repeated Houthi attacks have forced many shipowners to avoid this key passage for international trade.