January 18, 2024 In a decisive move to safeguard maritime security, the United States military executed strikes on 14 missiles that were poised for launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The U.S. Central Command, in a social media post on Wednesday, revealed that the Houthi missiles posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region, prompting the pre-emptive action.
The strikes occurred at approximately 11:59 pm (Sanaa time) on January 17, targeting the Houthi missiles and aiming to degrade their capabilities for future attacks on international and commercial shipping. The areas of concern included the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the ongoing danger posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists. “The actions by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists continue to endanger international mariners and disrupt the commercial shipping lanes,” stated General Kurilla. “We will continue to take actions to protect the lives of innocent mariners and we will always protect our people.”
The military strikes closely followed the announcement that the U.S. has reinstated the Houthi group on its list of specially designated global terrorists. This move imposes sanctions aimed at severing the group’s financial sources and curbing their ability to carry out violent extremist activities.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed the decision, linking it to the Houthi’s recent attacks on U.S. military forces and international maritime vessels. “These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism. They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” said Sullivan.
The formal designation will take effect 30 days from now, during which robust humanitarian carve-outs will be implemented to ensure minimal impact on the people of Yemen. Sullivan emphasized that the sanctions are targeted at the Houthis and not the Yemeni population, assuring unprecedented carve-outs and licenses to prevent adverse effects on the people of Yemen.
“We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine, and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions,” Sullivan stated, highlighting the commitment to maintaining humanitarian assistance amid the ongoing conflict.
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