A major U.S. offensive in Yemen to reduce the threat of terrorist attacks
U.S. forces have been conducting an intense military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen since mid-March. Their goal is to permanently weaken the rebels' ability to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The effectiveness of the terrorist attacks has been significantly reduced according to the U.S. authorities.
"Since March 15, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces have conducted an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. These operations have been executed using detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians," USCENTCOM said in its press release.
Since March 15, the United States has intensified its airstrikes against the Houthis as part of Operation Rough Rider. According to the U.S. military, more than 800 targets have been hit, killing hundreds of fighters, including several rebel leaders. The targets include command posts, air defense systems, and sophisticated weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. Despite these repeated actions, the Houthis continue to claim responsibility for attacks on US and Israeli ships in the Red Sea. However, according to military authorities, the effectiveness of these attacks has been significantly reduced. Ballistic missile launches have fallen by 69%, while suicide drone attacks have dropped by 55%, marking a significant erosion of the Houthis' offensive capabilities.
"U.S. strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities," USCENTCOM said. "The operation has been conducted by a robust assembly of forces to include two Carrier Strike Groups, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. We are extremely proud of our well-trained and professional forces as they have effectively delivered precise and lethal strikes against Houthi military capabilities."
Carrier Strike Groups involved
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group consists of the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with nine embarked aviation squadrons, staffs from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, CVW-1, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group includes flagship USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and the guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, which holds operational control of six Arleigh Burke-class destroyers: USS Hopper (DDG 70), USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Sterett (DDG 104), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).
Securing maritime traffic
The main objective of this campaign is clear: to restore security to strategic shipping lanes. Since late 2023, the Houthis have been disrupting traffic in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Their attacks have led many shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal, significantly increasing transport costs by forcing them to sail around Africa. Washington accuses Iran of actively supporting the Yemeni rebels. The U.S. authorities insist on Iran's role in the continuing Houthi attacks. The United States therefore promises to maintain military pressure until freedom of navigation is fully restored and U.S. deterrence is reestablished in the region.
"The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import. This fuel should be legitimately supplied to the people of Yemen. Despite the Foreign Terrorist Designation that went into effect on 05 April, ships have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Isa. Profits from these illegal sales are directly funding and sustaining Houthi terrorist efforts," USCENTCOM said on X on 17th April.
The Houthi attacks have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal, a vital artery through which 12% of global maritime traffic normally passes. As a result, many companies have had to make costly detours around southern Africa. The Houthi have acquired and utilized an arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones, which they have used not only to attack commercial ships but also naval vessels from the United States, Britain, and France. The Biden Administration launched a substantial number of airstrikes against Yemen, carrying out over eight hundred such attacks in four years. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, U.S. air raids have intensified, with strikes occurring almost daily over the past month. On 27th April, the Houthis claimed to have fired a missile toward Israel for the second time in two days. The Israeli military later said it had intercepted a missile from Yemen before it entered the country's airspace.
The Yemeni television channel Al-Massira, controlled by the Houthi rebels, reported that U.S. strikes on the capital Sanaa on 27th April had killed eight people and wounded others. "Eight martyrs, including children and women (...) This is the provisional toll of the U.S. attack in the Thaqban area, in the governorate of Bani Al-Har," the channel reported.
