The United States said it conducted strikes on Huthi targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, December 21, including what it said was a missile storage center and a "command-and-control facility."
During the operation, American forces also shot down multiple Huthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. "CENTCOM forces conducted the deliberate strikes to disrupt and degrade Huthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels," it said. "The strike reflects CENTCOM's ongoing commitment to protect US and coalition personnel, regional partners and international shipping."
The Huthis have repeatedly targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they say are Israeli-linked, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 7, 2023. The strikes on shipping by the Huthis, who have also launched missiles at Israel, have prompted retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain.
The US attack on Sanaa came the same day that a Huthi missile struck Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, wounding 16 people in the second such strike in days. The Israeli military said it failed to intercept the missile, forcing many residents to leave their homes in the early hours. The Huthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it used a ballistic missile directed at "a military target of the Israeli enemy".
The rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted. In response, Israel has struck multiple targets in rebel-held areas of Yemen, including ports and energy facilities.