CENTCOM Reports Destruction of Houthi Missile and Launcher

On Saturday, August 4, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement the destruction of a Houthi missile and launcher in areas controlled by this Iran-backed group in Yemen over the past 24 hours. According to the statement, these weapons posed an 'imminent threat' to U.S. forces and the international coalition, as well as commercial vessels in the region, and their destruction was carried out to support freedom of navigation and enhance the safety and security of international waters. On Wednesday, August 2, CENTCOM also reported the destruction of three Houthi unmanned vessels in the Red Sea. In recent months, Houthi militants have targeted commercial vessels in the region with repeated missile and drone attacks in defense of Hamas, another group supported by the Islamic Republic. In response to these attacks, the U.S. and its allies have formed an international coalition to target Houthi objectives with decisive strikes. The Houthis, who have carried out several missile and drone attacks against Israel in recent months, killed an Israeli civilian in a drone attack on Tel Aviv on July 19. Just one day after this attack, Israel targeted Houthi positions in the port of Hodeidah with heavy airstrikes. Netanyahu stated after this attack that weapons made by the Iranian government were reaching the Houthis through the port of Hodeidah. Additionally, the U.S. has sanctioned several individuals and entities for supporting the arming of the Houthis. The Houthis have threatened that a response to the Israeli attack is inevitable. The U.S. military destroyed two missiles from the Iran-backed Houthis. Missile fire from Yemen has raised alarms in Eilat; Israel claims the Islamic Republic is endangering 'global peace.' In response to the Houthi drone attack, Israel has called for 'crippling sanctions' against the Islamic Republic.