Houthi fighters newly recruited to be sent to fight in support of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, march in a parade in Sanaa, Yemen, December 2, 2023. Photo/REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden said American forces will continue to launch military strikes against Houthi targets, despite the fact that the campaign “has not stopped” Yemeni fighters from attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea.
US warships and submarines stationed in the Red Sea fired waves of missiles at more than a dozen Houthi launch sites in Yemen on Wednesday evening (1/17/2024).
The US attack came just hours after the Houthi group attacked a US cargo ship with drones.
US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said: “American bombing will reduce the Houthis’ ability to continue their reckless attacks on commercial and international shipping.”
When asked Thursday whether the offensive in Yemen succeeded in deterring the Houthis, Biden responded: “When you say it was successful, did they stop the Houthis? NO. Will they continue? YES.”
Wednesday’s missile attack marked the fourth time American forces have struck Houthi targets in Yemen since last week.
American and British warplanes fired about 70 missiles at Houthi targets last Thursday and Friday, and the United States launched follow-up strikes on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Shortly after Biden’s speech, Central Command announced that American forces had launched another attack, targeting Houthi missiles poised to launch commercial ships.
2024-01-19 12:45:18
#Biden #admits #airstrikes #failed #stop #Yemens #Houthis #blocking #ships