The US military initiated a series of airstrikes on Yemen, marking the fourth incident within a week, as reported by the local media in Yemen.
The aerial assault targeted various provinces, including Hudaydah, Taʿizz, Dhamar, al-Bayda, and Saada, and notably involved British aircraft.
According to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes, executed at around 11:59 p.m. Sana’a time on Wednesday, were purportedly aimed at 14 missiles loaded for potential launch from Yemen.
CENTCOM claimed that these strikes, coupled with other actions, aimed to “degrade” the “capabilities” of the Yemeni armed forces, hindering their ability to continue attacks in strategic maritime areas such as the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
Coinciding with these events, the US re-designated Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement as a “terrorist” group on the same day.
This move came amid frustration with anti-Israel naval operations conducted by the Yemeni armed forces in the Red Sea.
Criticism has been raised regarding the United States and its allies launching what is perceived as illegal attacks on Yemen, breaching the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law.
In the backdrop of these geopolitical tensions, Israel had previously waged a genocidal war on Gaza starting on October 7, following a significant operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity.
The US has consistently provided unwavering support to Israel during this onslaught, which has resulted in a tragic toll, with over 24,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, killed and at least 61,000 others injured.
In a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, the Yemeni armed forces have been targeting ships in the Red Sea with ties to Israel or those traveling to and from ports in the occupied territories.
The most recent incident occurred against the US-owned Genco Picardy bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing regional dynamics.