CENTCOM Reports Destruction of Militant Weapons; Continued Houthi Missile Attacks in the Red Sea

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement that from Friday night to the early hours of Saturday, February 17, according to Sanaa time, the Houthis fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea. According to CENTCOM's assessment, at least three of these missiles were aimed at a commercial ship owned by Denmark and flagged in Panama. These Houthi attacks did not result in casualties or financial damage. CENTCOM also reported the successful destruction of a mobile anti-ship cruise missile and a mobile unmanned vessel in two separate strikes in the Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. The statement noted that these weapons posed an 'imminent threat' to U.S. Navy vessels and commercial ships in the region. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that the Houthis were once again placed on the 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists' list due to their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea starting from Friday, February 17. The U.S. government had previously stated last month that it would reinstate these rebel groups from Yemen on this list to prevent further attacks on international shipping in the region. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea with missile and drone attacks following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, claiming to support the Palestinians. These attacks have led several shipping companies to halt their passage through the Red Sea and opt for the longer and more expensive route around the African continent. The United States and its allies have targeted Houthi positions in addition to implementing special measures to protect free navigation and passing commercial vessels.