The U.S. ramped up its war on Iran-backed Houthi rebels late Wednesday with another round of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, the fourth such strike in just a week.
U.S. Central Command said its troops targeted 14 missiles that “were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen” and “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.” The missiles could have been fired at any time, Pentagon officials said, meaning U.S. forces needed to act with urgency or else risk the Houthis launching yet another round of attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and other regional waterways.
“The actions by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists continue to endanger international mariners and disrupt the commercial shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea and adjacent waterways,” CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla said in a statement. “We will continue to take actions to protect the lives of innocent mariners and we will always protect our people.”
The latest American strikes came on the same day that the Houthis hit a U.S.-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. Officials said the Genco Picardy, a bulk carrier registered in the Marshall Islands, was able to continue on its voyage after the strike. The Houthi strike ignited a fire aboard the vessel, but it was quickly extinguished.
But the incident was yet another reminder of the Houthis’ ability to wreak havoc at sea. On Tuesday, the Houthis launched an anti-ship missile that hit the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. And on Monday, the Houthis struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship sailing in the Gulf of Aden.
No one was injured in either strike. Both ships continued on their voyages.
SEE ALSO: Biden designates Houthis as terrorist organization, shifting from 2021 decision
The Houthis have launched at least 30 attacks on commercial shipping over the past two months. Houthi leaders have said their campaign is retaliation toward Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip, though many of the ships targeted seemingly have no connection to Jerusalem. U.S. and British leaders reject the idea that the Houthis’ campaign is directly related to Israel, and they say the rebel group is recklessly targeting commercial ships and impeding international commerce.
Houthi rebels have also targeted U.S. military assets. Last Sunday, the Houthis fired a missile toward the USS Laboon, a warship traveling through the southern Red Sea. The missile was shot down and did not cause any damage or injuries, U.S. officials said.
After weeks of public warnings, U.S. and British forces on Jan. 11 finally struck Houthi positions in Yemen. U.S. and British troops hit 28 separate locations and destroyed more than 60 individual Houthi targets during an initial round of bombings.
The U.S. launched a follow-up strike on Friday that hit a Houthi radar site. On Tuesday, the U.S. struck Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities in Yemen.
American forces also are trying to stop fresh weapons from reaching Houthi positions in Yemen. On Jan. 11, U.S. forces seized a small ship sailing near the coast of Somalia. CENTCOM said the vessel was loaded with Iranian-made “propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as air defense associated components.”
Two Navy SEALs were lost at sea during the dangerous mission, Pentagon officials said.
SEE ALSO: History As It Happens: Who are the Houthis?
On the diplomatic front, the Biden administration is also getting more aggressive in its clash with the Houthis. President Biden on Wednesday designated Yemen’s Houthi rebels as terrorists.
Under Mr. Biden’s order, the Houthis will be labeled a “specially designated global terrorist” group. The move stops short of applying the more severe designation of “foreign terrorist organization,” which President Trump imposed on the Houthis in his final days in office and which Mr. Biden reversed.
• Jeff Mordock and Mike Glenn contributed to this report.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.