Houthi group targets US, Israeli military in new attacks

Sanaa

The Houthi group in Yemen has launched fresh missile and drone attacks on both U.S. and Israeli military targets. On Wednesday, Houthi officials announced they had targeted the USS Harry S. Truman, an American aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, as well as military facilities in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated the strikes were in retaliation against U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-held regions in northern Yemen. The spokesperson described the assault on the U.S. ship as part of ongoing confrontations with American forces, which he accused of launching aggression against Yemen. The Houthis also issued a vow to continue these attacks until U.S. airstrikes cease.

In addition to the U.S. military, the Houthis targeted Israeli military sites in Tel Aviv, using drones. The group claimed this was in support of Palestinians in Gaza, and pledged to keep targeting Israeli cities and vessels in the Red Sea. This attack followed several recent airstrikes by U.S. forces on the Houthi stronghold of Saada in northern Yemen.

There has been no official response from the U.S. military on the latest Houthi claims. The airstrikes on Saada are part of the ongoing U.S. campaign against Houthi-controlled areas, which started in mid-March. The conflict between the U.S.-backed Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels has been ongoing since 2014, and these new attacks signal a further escalation in the region.