In a significant move to safeguard maritime security, the US military has conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles in Yemen that were loaded and deemed an imminent threat. The strikes, launched from the Red Sea, targeted Houthi-controlled areas and occurred at approximately 11:59 pm (Sanaa time) on January 17, according to a statement from US Central Command.
The military action was a pre-emptive measure to neutralize the threat posed by the Houthi missiles, which were considered ready to be fired and presented a danger to both merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. US Central Command emphasized that the strikes aimed to degrade the Houthi’s capabilities and prevent further reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in key waterways, including the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander, stated, “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. We will continue to take actions to protect the lives of innocent mariners and we will always protect our people.”
The military strikes followed the US government’s official announcement on the same day that it has placed the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists. This move includes sanctions intended to cut off violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted the Houthis’ engagement in unprecedented attacks against US military forces and international maritime vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Sullivan emphasized that these attacks meet the criteria of terrorism, endangering US personnel, civilian mariners, and international partners while posing threats to global trade and navigation.
The designation will come into effect 30 days from now, implementing robust humanitarian carve-outs to ensure that the action targets the Houthis without negatively impacting the people of Yemen. Sullivan assured that unprecedented carve-outs and licenses would be introduced to prevent adverse effects on the Yemeni population, emphasizing that the people of Yemen should not bear the consequences of the Houthis’ actions.
“We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine, and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions. This is in addition to the carveouts we include in all sanctions programs for food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance,” Sullivan stated, underscoring the US commitment to protecting innocent lives and fostering stability in the region.
Sources By Agencies
