US Intensifies Air and Naval Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen

The US military's sustained operations against the Houthi movement have resulted in hundreds of their fighters and leaders being killed. The conflict, which has devastated Yemen over the past decade, shows no signs of resolution, prompting ongoing military engagement from the United States.

The US military has claimed that it has targeted more than 800 locations associated with the Houthi movement in Yemen, launching a series of sustained air and naval strikes since March 15. The operations were detailed in a Sunday statement from US Central Command, which indicated that "hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders" have been killed during this period.

The mission aims to safeguard shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which have come under threat from Houthi assaults. The Houthis, who govern significant areas of Yemen, reported that a recent US attack on the capital city, Sanaa, resulted in the deaths of at least eight civilians, including women and children.

Earlier airstrikes along the Red Sea coast, controlled by the Houthis, have reportedly caused substantial casualties, with local health officials confirming at least 74 fatalities and over 171 injuries.

Former President Trump openly ordered widespread military strikes aimed at Houthi positions last month, asserting that they would face "complete annihilation" if they continued hostile actions. He also issued warnings to Iran concerning its support for the Houthis, a claim that has been consistently denied by Tehran.

US military officials revealed that weapons storage and manufacturing facilities have been among the prime targets of their operations, but have not disclosed specific details about the ongoing efforts. The US has pledged to sustain military pressure until Houthi aggression on maritime vessels ceases.

Since November 2023, Houthi forces have conducted numerous missile and drone attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with reports indicating two vessels sunk, a third seized, and the deaths of four crew members. The Houthis assert that their actions are intentionally directed against vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK in support of the Palestinian cause amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The escalation of conflict dates back over a decade when the Houthis took control of Yemen's northwest regions, leading to a civil war amplified by a Saudi-led coalition intervening to restore the internationally recognized government. This prolonged conflict has claimed over 150,000 lives and has displaced around 4.8 million people, with approximately 19.5 million—half the population—requiring humanitarian assistance.