The U.S. military announced on Tuesday that it conducted a series of strikes against the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group in Yemen, amid the group's threats to continue attacks on Israel and vessels in the Red Sea unless a cease-fire is established in Gaza.
It remains uncertain whether these strikes will significantly impact the Houthis, who have persisted in their actions despite ongoing attacks from the U.S. and Israel.
The Houthis have been targeting Israel with missile launches and attacking commercial ships they allege are bound for Israel, expressing solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
The U.S. Central Command reported via X that it executed "multiple precision strikes" on Houthi positions in Sana, Yemen's capital, and along the coast on Monday and Tuesday. The targeted sites included a command and control facility, as well as weapons production and storage centers.
A video released by the command showcased F/A-18 Hornets and a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter launching bombs from an aircraft carrier at night, along with the daytime launch of missiles from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, typically equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles for land strikes.
Al-Masirah, a Houthi-affiliated TV channel, reported that two complexes in Sana were hit on Tuesday.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, a senior Houthi official, condemned the strikes as "American aggression on Yemen," labeling it a "blatant violation of an independent country’s sovereignty and blunt support for Israel."
Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer asserted that the group would persist in its operations supporting Gaza, stating, "We will confront any escalation by escalating ourselves." He emphasized that the best resolution would be to cease aggression in Gaza.
Despite some progress in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, a breakthrough for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages has not been achieved.
On Tuesday morning, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed responsibility for a drone and cruise missile attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, alleging it thwarted an impending aerial assault by American forces.
This exchange of fire coincided with the Houthis' fifth missile attack on Israel within a week, despite escalating warnings from Israeli officials. While most of the missiles have been intercepted, some have caused damage, including one that severely damaged a school in a Tel Aviv suburb and another that struck a playground, injuring 16 people.
Israeli military reports indicated that the latest Houthi missile was intercepted before entering Israeli territory, although warning sirens were activated across central Israel, prompting residents to seek shelter. Magen David Adom, the Israeli emergency service, reported treating an individual injured by a car while rushing to safety.
While the Israeli military mentioned a single missile fired from Yemen, Sarea claimed two missiles targeted the international airport near Tel Aviv and a power station in the Jerusalem area. Israeli authorities did not confirm any damage to these locations, although the mayor of Beit Shemesh reported debris from an intercepted missile falling in the area.
The Houthis control much of northern Yemen and maintain a hardline stance against Israel, with their motto including phrases such as "death to Israel" and "death to America."
In response to Houthi attacks, Israel has targeted infrastructure in Yemen, claiming it serves Houthi interests, including power stations and seaports. Human rights organizations have warned that these strikes could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
During a U.N. Security Council meeting, the Israeli ambassador vowed that the Houthis would face severe consequences for their attacks, similar to those faced by Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are also backed by Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is committed to neutralizing the threat posed by the Houthis, likening their actions to cutting off the "arms of the octopus," referring to Iran.
However, experts note that Israel faces significant challenges in addressing the Houthi threat, including a lack of intelligence, the considerable distance to Yemen, and the mountainous terrain that provides the Houthis with additional protection.
Abdulghani al-Iryani, a senior researcher, expressed skepticism that Israel's tough rhetoric would deter the Houthis, suggesting that civilian casualties are of little concern to the group.