The US launched three “self-defense attacks” against the Houthi rebels in Yemen

The US military conducted a new round of strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Friday, targeting missile launchers preparing to attack ships in the Red Sea, the White House announced. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that three successful self-defense strikes were conducted by US forces against Houthi targets in Yemen. The strikes were carried out by F/A-18 aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and were aimed at disrupting Houthi militant activities. President Joe Biden acknowledged that previous bombing of Houthi sites has not yet stopped the rebels’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea, leading the Biden administration to put the Houthis back on the list of specially designated global terrorists. The administration has vowed to continue retaliatory strikes as long as necessary. The Houthis claim their attacks are in response to Israeli involvement in the Gaza Strip, but links between attacked ships and Israel have been weakening. The US has made clear that the attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen are defensive efforts and are intended to protect ships in the region.