In a display of continued action against the Houthi rebels, US President Joe Biden stated that attacks on the group will persist, acknowledging their persistent attacks in the Red Sea. The United States executed a fifth round of strikes on Yemen on Thursday in response to a Houthi drone targeting a US ship.

White House spokesman John Kirby informed reporters that American forces successfully eliminated a range of Houthi missiles that were poised to be launched towards the Red Sea. These attacks took place on both Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, a Houthi drone struck a US-owned and operated bulk carrier ship, which required rescue assistance from India's navy. It is worth noting that this incident coincided with the US designating the Houthis as a terrorist organization.

President Biden addressed reporters in Washington DC before departing for a speech in North Carolina, stating that the Houthis have not been deterred by these actions. US Central Command, responsible for overseeing operations in the Middle East, confirmed that strikes were conducted on two Houthi anti-ship missiles on Thursday. These missiles were situated in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. In self-defense, the US forces promptly destroyed the missiles.

While addressing reporters at a briefing, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized that the US does not seek war and that the actions being taken are defensive in nature. The goal is not to engage in conflict with the Houthis.

During an hour-long televised speech on the same day, the leader of the Houthis expressed pride in being in direct confrontation with Israel, the US, and the UK. Abdul Malik al-Houthi denounced the aggression against the Yemeni people as a violation of sovereignty and a direct encroachment on Yemen.

According to British security firm Ambrey, a US-owned tanker ship was surrounded by four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) off the southeast coast of Yemen on Thursday. Fortunately, the ship was not impacted and continued its voyage, as reported by Reuters.

The Houthi attacks on merchant vessels began in response to Israel's military operation in Gaza in November. Since then, the rebel group has launched numerous attacks on commercial tankers passing through the Red Sea, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes globally.

In response to the ongoing threat, the US and UK initiated a series of airstrikes against multiple Houthi targets on January 11. These strikes garnered the support of Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands, and Canada. The action was taken after the Houthi forces ignored an ultimatum to cease their attacks in the region.

The recent pre-emptive strikes targeted 14 Houthi missile sites, as detailed by officials. The United States remains committed to counteracting the threat posed by the Houthis in the Red Sea.