US again targets Yemen's Houthis in new strikes

WASHINGTON — The United States carried out fresh strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday, the military said, targeting an anti-ship missile that was "prepared to launch".

Washington is seeking to reduce the Iran-backed Houthis' military capabilities, but the Yemeni rebels have continued their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, despite more than a week of strikes, and have vowed to keep targeting merchant vessels.

At around 4 am Sanaa time (1:00 GMT), US "forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch", a statement from US Central Command said on Saturday.

"US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region, and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence."

"This action will make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels," the statement said.

The Houthis began striking Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza. They subsequently declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Saturday's operation marks the fifth round of strikes by the United States on the rebel group in recent weeks. Dozens of sites in Yemen have been hit, including a Houthi radar site and missiles Washington says posed a threat to civilian and military vessels.

Washington is also seeking to put diplomatic and financial pressure on the Houthis, re-designating them as a "terrorist" entity after dropping that label soon after President Joe Biden took office.

Yemen is just one part of a growing crisis in the Middle East amid the war in Gaza, where Israel's relentless bombardment and ground offensive have killed nearly 25,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.