US Intensifies Military Operations in Yemen Against Houthi Forces
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The United States has escalated its military actions against Houthi positions in Yemen, executing 22 airstrikes early Tuesday. Targeting key areas, this campaign seeks to disrupt Houthi threats to international shipping, despite ongoing resistance from the group.
Key Takeaways
- The US conducted 22 airstrikes targeting Houthi sites.
- Airstrikes aimed to disrupt Houthi threats to shipping.
- US military operations began on March 15, 2023.
- Houthi claims include downing US drones and attacks on Israel.
- The Houthis assert their actions are linked to the Gaza conflict.
Aden, April 8 (NationPress) The United States has ramped up its military operations against Houthi strongholds in Yemen, executing 22 airstrikes in northern Yemen on early Tuesday. This latest series of attacks targeted eastern and southern sectors of the capital, Sanaa, the Island of Kamaran in the Red Sea, and the oil-rich province of Marib, according to reports from Houthi-controlled al-Masirah TV and local eyewitnesses.
Eyewitnesses described the onslaught as “extremely powerful and violent,” although immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s strikes have not surfaced. This escalation follows Sunday night’s airstrikes that allegedly resulted in the deaths of four children and injuries to 25 more in Sanaa.
The ongoing US air campaign, initiated on March 15, aims to disrupt Houthi assaults on international shipping in the Red Sea, particularly those the group alleges are associated with Israel.
Despite the persistent US military action, Yemeni military analysts indicate that these airstrikes have not succeeded in dissuading the Houthis, who continue to target US and Israeli interests in the region, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Houthi claims suggest that 17 US-made MQ-9 Reaper drones were downed in Yemen from October 2023 to April 3, 2025.
On Monday, the group asserted it had executed a drone strike on a military target in Tel Aviv, Israel, and launched cruise missiles and drones at two US warships in the Red Sea.
“The US initiative against the Houthis has not yet met its declared objectives,” stated Ali Bin Hadi, a retired military expert based in Aden.
“The group still retains the capability to threaten international navigation, its leadership remains intact, and Washington is facing significant costs without making notable advancements,” he remarked.
Political analyst Muqbil Naji from Aden posits that these airstrikes could be “a prelude to ground operations,” possibly indicating direct US military engagement or enhanced support for the forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Naji highlighted a “forthcoming opportunity” for the Yemeni government to “liberate” Hodeidah and the West Coast from Houthi control with backing from regional nations and the United States.
Supporting this perspective, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi called for “unified ranks and active support” in combating the Houthi forces, asserting that the “decisive hour is nearing” to terminate the suffering caused by the Houthi militias’ war.
The Yemeni leader reiterated his government’s commitment to “restore usurped state institutions.”
The Houthis, who dominate much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have been in conflict with the internationally-recognized government since 2014.
The Houthis assert that their maritime assaults in the Red Sea are intended to pressure an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and facilitate the return of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian regions.
Both analysts warned that the ongoing conflict between Washington and the Houthi group poses a risk of establishing a new long-term front in the strategically critical Red Sea area, with intricate implications for both regional and global security.
