Houthis Target Shipping in Red Sea as US Military Strikes: Latest Updates

The U.S. military has undertaken a series of strikes against Houthi anti-ship missiles in what it claims to be acts of self-defense. Previously part of an international coalition, the U.S. military is now independently targeting Houthi missiles that pose a threat to shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait.
Between January 17 and 20, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) destroyed 18 Houthi anti-ship missiles that were deployed on launch rails. During the same timeframe, the Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles and one drone, which hit a merchant vessel.
While the initial strikes on Houthi military targets were carried out by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom, subsequent attacks have been claimed solely by the U.S. military. The government’s statements, however, have been contradictory, with officials stating that they seek to restore deterrence, avoid escalating the conflict, and are not at war with the Houthis.
These strikes by the U.S. military are aimed at protecting innocent mariners from Houthi attacks on cruise and anti-ship missiles. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh emphasized that the strikes are a form of self-defense against the ongoing Houthi assault on U.S. warships and American-owned ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, with backing from Iran, are working to defeat the U.S. and Israel, particularly as Israel battles Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. Iran has formed its Axis of Resistance that includes the Houthis, Lebanese Hezbollah, various Iraqi and Syrian militias, and Palestinian terror groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The goal of this alliance is to drive the U.S. out of the Middle East and isolate and defeat Israel.
Here is a timeline of recent activities between the U.S. and the Houthi rebels since January 17:
– January 17: A Houthi drone struck the Merchant Vessel Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden, causing damage but no casualties.
– January 18: U.S. Central Command targeted and destroyed 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded to be launched in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
– January 18: The Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at the Merchant Vessel Chem Ranger, but both missiles missed their target.
– January 19: U.S. Central Command destroyed three Houthi anti-ship missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were ready to be launched.
– January 20: U.S. Central Command intercepted and destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was prepared for launch.
As tensions persist between the U.S. military and the Houthi rebels, the situation in the region remains precarious. The U.S. military asserts its actions as necessary for self-defense, while the Houthis, backed by Iran, continue their efforts to challenge American and Israeli interests in the Middle East.