Washington, Oct 17 (EFE).- The United States has bombed underground facilities of the Shiite Houthis in Yemen, the latest in a series of US military attacks against the Iranian-backed movement.
“US military forces, including US Air Force B-2 bombers, conducted precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” said a statement by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released late Wednesday night Washington time, early Thursday morning Sana’a time.
The US targeted “underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region,” it added.
The US also attacked Houthi targets in early October, saying it did so to protect freedom of navigation and to reinforce security in international waters.
Since November last year, the Houthis have attacked Israeli and Israeli-linked ships in the Red and Arabian seas with missiles and drones in defense of Palestinians and to economically damage Israel. They also launch missiles at the Jewish state, most of which are intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
Israeli aircraft have twice bombed the Yemeni port of Al Hudaydah, used by the Houthis, the last time in late September which, according to the Houthis, killed five people.
Houthi attacks, which are backed by Iran, have severely impacted international trade and forced major shipping companies to divert their routes instead of using the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
“The Houthis’ illegal attacks continue to disrupt the free flow of international commerce, threaten environmental catastrophe, and put innocent civilian lives and US and partner forces’ lives at risk,” the statement added. EFE
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