In a continued effort to curb the Houthi rebel attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, U.S. forces launched a fifth strike against Iranian-backed Houthi military sites in Yemen on Thursday. The strikes destroyed two anti-ship missiles that were poised for launch into the southern Red Sea, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command. The airstrikes were carried out by Navy F/A-18 fighter aircraft.

President Joe Biden has acknowledged that the airstrikes have yet to halt the Houthis' aggression against commercial and military ships. At a press briefing before leaving the White House for a domestic policy speech in North Carolina, Biden confirmed that the strikes would continue despite their limited success in curbing Houthi activities.

The latest round of strikes follows a significant operation conducted on Wednesday night, when the U.S. military launched missile strikes from the Red Sea on 14 Houthi-controlled sites. The missiles that were targeted were classified as an imminent threat by U.S. Central Command. These strikes were a part of a joint U.S. and British operation that targeted over 60 sites across Yemen after hitting 28 locations in the initial round.

Despite the sanctions and military actions taken against the Houthis, their harassment of ships in the Red Sea persists. It has been reported that the attacks have decreased in intensity since the joint operation commenced, with the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, stating that the attacks have been on a "lower scale." However, the strikes have not completely deterred the Houthis' actions.

The Houthis claim that their attacks on ships are in response to the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, which was triggered by an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. The rebels initially suggested a connection between the targeted ships and Israel, but as the attacks have continued, the links have become more tenuous.

These ongoing attacks raise concerns about the possibility of the conflict between Israel and Hamas expanding into a wider regional war. The U.S. has been firm in its warning to Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthi rebels, highlighting the need to address the situation and prevent further escalation in the region.

As the U.S. and its allies persist in their efforts to mitigate the Houthi threat, the international community closely watches the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea, hoping for a diplomatic resolution to end the conflict and restore stability in the region.