US launches airstrikes on Houthi targets

Aden

The United States launched major airstrikes across Yemen on Wednesday, hitting more than 50 Houthi targets. The air attacks took place in northern, central, and western parts of the country, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

The Houthis did not reveal how many people were killed or injured. They promised to respond and said they would continue attacking ships linked to the US or Israel.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said a ship 100 nautical miles east of Aden was chased by armed boats for two hours on Tuesday night. Shots were fired, but the ship escaped safely, and the crew is unharmed.

This was the first such sea attack in months.

On Sunday, the Houthis said they shot down a US MQ-9 drone using a local missile in Hajjah province. It was the 19th US drone they claimed to have downed since November 2023.

The US restarted its airstrikes on March 15, saying it was trying to stop Houthi attacks on American and Israeli ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthi group controls much of northern Yemen. Since November, they have launched attacks to support Palestinians in Gaza. Despite the airstrikes, the group says its military strength remains.