CENTCOM Forces Destroy Houthi Ground-to-Air Missile

On Friday, March 2, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces destroyed a missile belonging to the Houthi rebels supported by the Islamic Republic. According to the CENTCOM statement, around 12:40 PM local time in Sanaa, the Houthi ground-to-air missile, which was ready to be fired towards the Red Sea, was destroyed. CENTCOM referred to this missile as an 'imminent threat' to U.S. aircraft in the region. The statement also noted that at 10:46 PM on the same day, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Red Sea, which did not cause any damage to vessels in the area. On Thursday, March 1, CENTCOM had also destroyed seven missiles and drones belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthis. Meanwhile, as Houthi attacks on passing vessels in the Red Sea continue, Reuters reported that currently, almost only grain-carrying ships from the Black Sea or heading to Iran are passing through this sea. Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing shipping companies to choose longer and more expensive routes, such as circumventing the African continent. An analyst from the data company 'Kepler' in the UK told Reuters, 'Almost all dry grain-carrying ships from North America and Western Europe are avoiding the Red Sea.' According to him, 'The only exception is ships heading to Iran.' He added that almost all ships moving from the Black Sea to Asia pass through the Red Sea. This comes as Western countries, led by the United States, have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of financially and militarily supporting the Houthis. Tim Lenderking, the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last Tuesday that the Islamic Republic is 'equipping and facilitating' Houthi attacks, which have led to retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and the UK in Yemen. Lenderking stated, 'Credible public reports indicate that a significant number of Iranian and Hezbollah operatives are supporting Houthi attacks from within Yemen.' He also described the Islamic Republic's assistance to the Houthis as a factor in the continuation of that group's attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. He emphasized that Iran is helping the Houthis in their attacks in the most destructive manner. According to Lenderking, the U.S. 'wants Iran to play a positive role and help reduce tensions rather than exacerbate them.'