**U.S. Military Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen to Safeguard Maritime Security**

In a concerted effort to secure international waters and ensure the free navigation of naval and merchant vessels, the U.S. military launched a substantial offensive against Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday. According to U.S. officials, the coordinated strikes, which involved both aircraft and warships, successfully hit 15 sites that harbored Houthi offensive military capabilities.

This action follows a significant escalation last week when the Houthis initiated a "complex attack" involving cruise missiles and drones near U.S. Navy ships. Fortunately, the U.S. Navy managed to neutralize the threat by either intercepting the weapons or rendering them ineffective. There were no injuries or damage to the U.S. vessels involved. Despite ongoing U.S. airstrikes, this recent incident underscores the Houthis' persistent efforts to disrupt maritime operations in the Red Sea.

Since November of the previous year, the Houthis have been notably aggressive, targeting over 100 ships, sinking two, and hijacking another. The Houthi group has claimed these attacks are in response to Israel's war in Gaza, although U.S. officials highlight that many of the targeted vessels are not linked to the conflict. Recent months have seen the group directing attacks more directly at Israel, including a drone strike on Tel Aviv in July and a missile attack in September, which in turn triggered Israeli retaliatory measures against sites in Yemen.

The U.S. Central Command often preemptively strikes Houthi missile or drone launch positions when there are indicators of imminent threats to U.S. and allied vessels. However, the most recent offensive targeted a broader swath of Houthi infrastructure. Earlier this year, the U.S. and U.K. conducted joint operations aimed at dismantling not just launching capabilities but also storage facilities and other infrastructural elements critical to the Houthi's military operations.

Despite these measures, Pentagon representatives, including Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, have acknowledged that the Houthis maintain a significant offensive capability. Singh noted that while the U.S.-led strikes have degraded some aspects of their arsenal, the group continues to wield a formidable array of weaponry. It's important to note the Houthis, akin to Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, receive substantial backing and armaments from Iran.