RIYADH: US military forces conducted precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said early Thursday morning.
In a statement posted on the US Defense Department's website, Austin also said long-range B-2 stealth bombers were used in the airstrikes targeting facilities "housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region."
"The employment of US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrate US global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere," he said.
It wasn’t immediately clear what damage was done in the strikes. However, it is incredibly rare for the B-2 Spirit to be used in the strikes targeting the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
"At the direction of President Biden, I authorized these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis' capability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect and defend US forces and personnel in one of the world's most critical waterways," Austin further said.
His announcement followed a report by the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV early Thursday claiming US-British air strikes targeted Houthi positions in Yemen.
Al Masirah TV said the strikes targeted the capital city of Sanaa and the city of Saada.
The Houthis said that the strikes targeted Sanaa, Dhamar, Hodeidah and Al-Bayda, with residents reporting thick smoke and explosions rocking military bases in targeted areas.
US and British forces have deployed in the Red Sea since the Iran-backed Houthi militia began a drone and missile campaign against commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea, in sympathy with Gazans under attack from Israel.
The attacks forced many shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea and take the longer sea lane passing through the coast of South Africa.
(With agencies)
