The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video on Wednesday (November 13) showing American airstrikes on military targets of the Houthi group in Yemen. The strikes, carried out on November 9-10, targeted multiple Houthi armed weapons depots and successfully hit the intended targets.
These facilities were located within the territory controlled by the Houthi group, where various advanced conventional weapons of the group were stored. CENTCOM stated that with the support of Iran, the Houthi group had repeatedly used these weapons to attack international commercial ships.
According to CENTCOM, the operation involved the use of equipment from the US Air Force and Navy, including the F-35C aircraft.
A US Department of Defense official told Fox News that this marked the first combat use of the F-35C stealth attack aircraft. The aircraft, along with other US military equipment, took off from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier deployed in the Arabian Sea to participate in this operation.
CENTCOM stated that these targeted operations were in response to the Houthi group’s repeated illegal attacks on international commercial ships, as well as US and coalition vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea. The aim was to weaken the capabilities of the Houthi group and reduce the threats faced by regional partners.
Other US military equipment that took part in the operation included the USS Stockdale (DDG106) and USS Spruance (DDG111) destroyers of the US Navy, as well as various aircraft from the US Air Force and Navy. These equipment successfully intercepted a series of weapons fired by the Houthi armed forces while passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
“Crews successfully engaged and destroyed 8 one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (OWA-UAV), 5 anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM), and 4 anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel,” CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM also added that no US personnel were injured, and US facilities were not damaged during the operation.
The United States Central Command stated that the actions taken over the weekend reflect their ongoing efforts to protect American personnel, regional partners, and international shipping while maintaining security and stability in the region.
Prior to the release of this announcement, the US military conducted another operation on Monday. In that operation, CENTCOM forces retaliated against targets in Syria linked to Iran.
The US military at the time stated that this was in response to multiple attacks on US personnel in Syria over the past 24 hours.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on social media: “These strikes will degrade armed groups supported by Iran and diminish their ability to launch future attacks on US and coalition forces.”