According to a coalition statement, the raids hit 18 targets in eight locations. It is the latest effort to stop Houthi attacks on commercial ships crossing the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
“The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most important waterways,” Austin said.
The Iran-backed Houthi group said it would target ships linked to Israel or heading to its ports in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza. They have launched at least 57 attacks on international shipping since November.
In a statement on Sunday The Houthis on social media condemned the strikes and said they would continue their “military operations against all hostile targets in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.”
The US Central Command said on Saturday that the warship USS Mason successfully intercepted an anti-ship missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. She added that the American forces believed that the missile was likely targeting the US-owned cargo tanker, MV Torm Thor, and shot it down without causing damage or injuries. In a statement on SundayBrigadier General Al Houthi. The military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said that the group deployed naval missiles targeting the ship.
Here's what else you should know
The Israeli War Cabinet discussed the framework for a possible agreement to release the remaining hostages in Gaza late Saturday, where officials reported progress in negotiations held in Paris the day before between Egypt, Israel, the United States and Qatar, which acts as a mediator for Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would meet with the war cabinet again It is scheduled to approve early this week “operational action plans” in Rafah, including “the evacuation of the civilian population.” Israel's allies and relief agencies warned against launching an attack on the border city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, where about 1.4 million Palestinians are crowded without any safe place to go.
At least 29,692 people have been killed in Gaza and 69,879 others have been injured since the war beganAccording to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, and says that 239 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.
