In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Yemen, US fighter jets, launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, executed precise strikes on three underground storage facilities in Houthi-controlled regions late Friday. According to a US official, who preferred to remain anonymous, the operation marks a crucial step in the US military’s efforts to counteract Houthi aggression in the region. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was stationed in the Red Sea at the time of the strikes.

Witnesses in Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, reported seeing and hearing explosions on Friday night, with social media videos capturing the intensity of the strikes. Explosions illuminated the night sky, and smoke was visible, rising above the city. Despite the clear evidence of the airstrikes, there has been no official confirmation regarding casualties or the specific origins of the explosions. Yemeni TV station Al-Masirah, affiliated with the Houthis, reported on the strikes hitting the city.

U.S. Central Command has confirmed that, in addition to targeting the storage facilities, their forces successfully neutralized four unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled territories. The statement also addressed an incident involving the firing of four anti-ship ballistic missiles by the Houthis toward the Red Sea. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or damage to US, coalition, or commercial vessels.

The Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran and controlling significant portions of Yemen, have escalated their campaign of drone and missile attacks, particularly targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea. These aggressive actions are purportedly aimed at pressuring Israel to halt its operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Despite two months of US-led airstrikes aimed at curbing these hostilities, the Houthis have persisted in their campaign.

This latest military operation underscores the complex dynamics of the Yemeni conflict and the international efforts to maintain stability in a region crucial for global shipping lanes. As the situation evolves, the strategic importance of these airstrikes in deterring further aggression and safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea remains evident.

  anti-ship ballistic missiles, Houthi-controlled areas, US Central Command, US fighter jets, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Yemen airstrikes