The US military announced that the Central Command forces conducted seven “self-defense” strikes yesterday against four drones associated with the Houthi group and seven anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to be launched at ships in the Red Sea.
In a statement, the military added that the US Central Command confirmed that the missiles and drones in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen posed an imminent threat to US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the region.
The statement further emphasized that these actions would safeguard navigation freedom and enhance the security of international waters.
Meanwhile, Houthi-affiliated media reported that American and British airstrikes targeted the Ras Isa area in the directorate of Salif in the Hodeidah governorate, western Yemen.
The group’s leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, stated in a televised address that the Yemen front continues to target the Israeli enemy until the cessation of aggression and the siege on Gaza. He dismissed American claims regarding the impact of the strikes on the group’s military capabilities as mere entertainment and face-saving measures, according to his expression.
Decrease in Ship Movement
In related news, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, confirmed that ship traffic in the Red Sea halved in January compared to the previous year.
Additionally, the CEO of Maersk Line, Vincent Clerc, stated that the US Navy informed him of its current inability to ensure the safety of navigation for all ships in the Red Sea. Clerc expressed pessimism about the maritime shipping conditions due to the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.
In solidarity with Gaza, which has been under continuous Israeli aggression since October 7, 2023, the Houthis target cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies, or transporting goods to and from Israel.
To deter them, US and British forces have conducted strikes on their sites in Yemen since January 12, and the US military intermittently launches strikes on missiles they claim are prepared for launch.
Houthi attacks affect navigation in the strategic region through which 12% of global trade flows, leading to increased transportation costs as shipping companies redirect their vessels to the Cape of Good Hope, in the southernmost part of Africa, prolonging the journey between Asia and Europe by about a week.
