The recent U.S. strike with B-2 bombers on Houthi weapon depots in Yemen shows that the joint U.S.-Israel response to Tehran is taking shape, albeit gradually.
The Yemeni rebels are undoubtedly a significant part of the “axis of resistance,” as Tehran defines it. Since October 8 of last year, they have repeatedly targeted southern Israel, created significant problems for maritime commercial transport by effectively closing the port of Aden, and have shown resilience to strikes from the U.S., the U.K., and Israel.
Even the choice of stealth bombers for this attack sends a clear message to the entire region: “We can and have all the necessary weapon systems to strike anyone.”
B-2 Stealth Bombers in Action
It’s worth noting that the B-2 bombers had not been used since 2017 under the Obama administration.
The Target of the Strikes
“U.S. forces today struck five underground Houthi weapon depots in Yemen,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, clarifying that B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in the operation.
“Today, U.S. military forces, including B-2 bombers, precisely targeted five underground armored weapon storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” Lloyd Austin’s statement read. He further emphasized that these Iranian-backed rebels were using such weapon systems to launch attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea region.
“Following President Biden’s directive, I authorized these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis’ ability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect U.S. forces and personnel in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes,” said Secretary Austin.
U.S. Military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) Statement
The U.S. Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, announced it is gathering information on the impact of the airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen. So far, there have been no reports of civilian casualties.
Earlier, the Houthi-aligned Al Masirah television network reported that U.S. and British forces had launched early morning strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa and the northern city of Saada.
Since last November, the Houthis have frequently launched missile and drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean. Initially, they claimed to be targeting ships linked to Israel, but they later expanded their targets to include vessels connected to the U.S. and the U.K. in retaliation for strikes on their positions in Yemen by these nations.
