US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that US B-2 bombers and other aircraft targeted five underground weapons storage locations controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran. The facilities housed various weapons used to target civilian and military vessels in the region. These strikes marked the first time that B-2 bombers were used against the Houthis. The attacks were authorized by President Joe Biden to degrade the Houthis’ capability and protect US forces and personnel in critical waterways. The Houthis, who took over part of Yemen in 2014, have been launching attacks in response to the war in Gaza and have expressed support for Hamas.
The Red Sea, through which an annual $1 trillion flow of goods passes, has seen disruptions in shipping due to the attacks. The US previously conducted airstrikes against Houthi weapons in January in response to attacks on commercial shipping. The conflict in Yemen has led to extreme hardship, with the UN calling it the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 18 million people in Yemen rely on humanitarian assistance. Austin stated that the strikes aim to deter the Houthis’ destabilizing behavior and protect US interests in the region.
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