The U.S. Targets Several Houthi Unmanned Surface Vessels and Missiles

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement the continuation of attacks on positions and weapons of the Houthis, a group supported by the Islamic Republic in Yemen, on Friday, February 9. According to the CENTCOM statement, from 3 AM Friday to 9:40 PM Friday night, two unmanned surface vessels, four anti-ship cruise missiles, and one ground-attack cruise missile that were ready to launch were targeted. CENTCOM noted that these missiles and vessels were in areas controlled by the Houthis and were identified as an 'imminent threat' to U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the region. The statement emphasized that attacks on these Houthi targets protect maritime freedom and make international waters safer for American and commercial ships. This comes as CENTCOM had previously destroyed three Houthi missiles in two self-defense strikes on Wednesday night, February 7. The Houthis had fired six anti-ship missiles at international shipping lines on Tuesday, February 6, some of which landed in the water, and U.S. forces managed to intercept at least one of them. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed at that time that the Houthis have used missiles and drones made by the Islamic Republic against military and civilian targets across the Middle East. The report indicated that images of the missiles and drones made by the Islamic Republic matched perfectly with the weaponry used by the Houthis to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea and civilian and port infrastructure throughout the region. The report also stated that the Islamic Republic has primarily sent short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles to the Houthis, and between 2015 and 2023, the U.S. and its allies seized at least 18 vessels belonging to the Islamic Republic that intended to deliver ballistic missile and drone components, anti-tank guided missiles, and thousands of assault rifles to the Houthis. In this context, dozens of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday urged President Joe Biden to 'immediately' designate Yemen's Ansarullah, or the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization. Following the increase in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea after the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza under the pretext of supporting Palestinians, calls have been made to re-designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on January 17 that the Houthis would be listed as an international terrorist group by the U.S. government within 30 days, before the end of February. The Pentagon reported that over 40 militants were killed or wounded in last Friday's attacks on groups supported by the Islamic Republic. A German frigate has set sail for the Red Sea to protect commercial vessels. While international coalition attacks on Houthi positions continue, Yemen's Prime Minister has changed. U.S. and allied military operations against the Houthis have targeted anti-ship cruise missiles and '36 other targets' in Yemen. U.S. and British attacks on Houthi positions have prompted the Islamic Republic to warn about 'suspected spying vessels.' A Houthi spokesperson stated that the U.S. and British airstrikes on Yemen would not go 'unanswered.' Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from the Red Sea. Josep Borrell announced the European Union's mission in the Red Sea to protect commercial vessels from Houthi attacks. India has deployed a large number of warships near the Red Sea to combat piracy. Denmark is joining the U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea. A British warship destroyed a Houthi drone supported by the Islamic Republic. The U.S. has once again urged China to convince the Islamic Republic to reduce Houthi attacks. A fire on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden has been extinguished. The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the U.S. goal in the Red Sea is solely to deter the Houthis, not to escalate tensions.