The airstrike targeted a Houthi radar site.
January 12, 2024, 10:48 p.m. ET
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The US launched another retaliatory strike against Houthi fighters in Yemen on Friday following large-scale airstrikes on Thursday, according to US Central Command.
The airstrike targeted a Houthi radar site and was a direct response to the launch of an anti-ship ship attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden that fell harmlessly into the water.
“At 3:45 a.m. (Sanaa time) on January 13, U.S. forces conducted an attack against a Houthi radar facility in Yemen,” CENTCOM said in a statement after the airstrike.
“This attack was conducted by the USS Carney (DDG 64) with Tomahawk land attack missiles and was a follow-up action on a specific military target related to attacks on January 12th that were intended to impair the Houthi ability to attack maritime merchant vessels “, it added.
At 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on January 11, 2024, US Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, conducted joint attacks on Houthi targets to destroy them Ability to continue their illegal and reckless attacks on U.S. and international vessels and merchant shipping in the Red Sea. U.S. Central Command
Friday's failed missile attack is now believed to be the 28th Houthi attack on commercial shipping using drones and missiles since mid-November.
On Thursday evening, the US struck 28 Houthi sites in Yemen, linked to drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
U.S. officials said the sites were hit by Tomahawk cruise missiles fired by U.S. Navy destroyers, British warplanes and U.S. Navy fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower.
Houthi officials had announced retaliatory measures against the US after Thursday's attacks.
Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon during a trip to Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden called the attacks a “success” and said the U.S. would continue to respond if the Houthis continued their “outrageous behavior.”
In a statement released Thursday, Biden warned the Houthis that he “will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our people and the free flow of international trade.”
U.S. officials said Friday that while the assessment of Thursday's attack was still ongoing, they believe the Houthis' ability to launch large-scale attacks has been compromised.
Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, told reporters earlier Friday that the attacks had weakened the Houthis' ability to mount a major attack like the one they attempted Tuesday.
“I know our skills have declined,” Sims said. “I don’t think they would be able to execute in the same way as they did the other day,” referring to the Houthi barrage of 21 rockets and drones on Tuesday.
“I would hope that they do not respond,” he said, adding: “We are prepared in the event that they respond.” He said he hoped the Houthis would realize that attempts at retaliation are “generally unsuccessful.” .
At 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on January 11, 2024, US Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, conducted joint attacks on Houthi targets to destroy them Ability to continue their illegal and reckless attacks on U.S. and international shipping and merchant shipping in the Red Sea. U.S. Central Command
Sims said any attacks would be damaging to the region.
“It doesn’t just concern things directly related to the Houthis,” he said. “But honestly, it affects a lot of their partners or a lot of the people they work with, so I would hope they don’t retaliate.”
The number of civilian casualties from Thursday night's strikes is not expected to be “very high,” he said, as the majority of affected locations are in rural areas. He specifically mentioned rocket launchers in mountainous areas or in very sparsely populated areas.
“This wasn't necessarily about losses, but rather a deterioration in performance,” Sims said.
“This was designed solely to achieve the capabilities that impede international freedom of navigation and international waters, and we are quite confident that we have done a good job of that,” he said.