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President Joe Biden listens at an event in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on October 23 in Washington, DC.
CNN –
President Joe Biden acknowledged Thursday that attacks against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are not deterring the groups' attacks in the Red Sea, as the military carried out additional attacks against the group in Yemen.
The fifth U.S. attack on Houthi facilities in a week targeted a small number of anti-ship missiles prepared for launch against international shipping lanes, the official said.
“U.S. Central Command troops conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were targeted and ready to launch in the southern Red Sea,” the U.S. military said in a statement Thursday afternoon, confirming the latest attacks.
“US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen at approximately 3:40 p.m. (Sanaa time) and determined that they posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy vessels in the region. U.S. forces then struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense,” the statement continued.
Biden said attacks on the Houthis will continue – even if they do not stop the group from carrying out attacks.
Asked at the White House whether the strikes are having an impact, the president replied: “If you say they're working, are they stopping the Houthis?” NO.”
“Will they continue? Yes,” he added.
Accordingly, at around 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Iran-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at another U.S. merchant vessel – the M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and Greek-owned ship operated tanker to the US Central Command. It was at least the third U.S. ship attacked by the rebel group this week.
CENTCOM said no injuries or damage were reported and the ship continued to sail.
Thursday's U.S. strikes are the latest in a series of actions against the Houthis, following significant U.S. strikes last week against the United Kingdom and support from a handful of other allies. They come against a backdrop of increasing tensions in the Middle East and fears that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could spread further into the region.
CNN has reached out to the Pentagon for comment on the recent attacks.
The continued pace of U.S. attacks in Yemen underscores the Biden administration's willingness to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided for weeks because it feared it could trigger a regional escalation. However, as the Houthis continue to fire missiles and drones against commercial vessels, including successful attacks on two U.S. ships this week, U.S. actions against the Houthis have become more frequent.
The first attacks, led by the US and supported by an international coalition, hit radar facilities and command and control nodes, as well as the weapons the Houthis have used against international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
A day later, the United States targeted another Houthi radar site in a unilateral operation.
Then on Tuesday, the U.S. fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles, describing the actions as self-defense operations because of an imminent threat to U.S. merchant and naval vessels.
On Wednesday, the US carried out another series of strikes against 14 Houthi anti-ship missiles. They used Tomahawk missiles fired from US Navy surface ships and a guided-missile submarine.
“We will continue to take action to protect the lives of innocent sailors and we will always protect our people,” Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement Wednesday.
But the U.S. strikes did little to deter the Houthis, who continued to fire missiles and drones at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, some of the world's most important waterways for commercial shipping.
On Monday, the Houthis bombed the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a US bulk carrier, with an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden. The ship was slightly damaged and continued its journey. But it appeared to be the first time the Houthis had managed to attack a US ship.
Two days later, the Houthis attacked another U.S. ship, the M/V Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden with a disposable attack drone. This ship also suffered minor damage and continued its journey.
This story has been updated with additional information.