On Thursday, US forces crashed into a major fuel port in western Yemen that was used to supply Hauti’s rebels. Such airstrikes have been publicly announced since Washington launched an air campaign against extremist groups in March.
“Today, the US military has taken action to eliminate this fuel source and take away illegal revenue for Iran-backed Hooty terrorists,” read a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East.
The order said it targeted and destroyed the port of Ras Isa, a major oil terminal on the Red Sea coast.
“The purpose of these strikes was to break down the source of economic power in the Houches,” said Centcom.
The US launched airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis on March 15th as part of a campaign to force extremist groups to halt attacks on civilian and military vessels in the Red Sea, a key maritime corridor.
President Trump vowed to continue such a strike against the Iran-backed Houtsis, warning Tehran to halt the group’s support and declared that the country is directly responsible for future attacks by rebels.
The US military has also built up its troops in the area, sending second airline strike groups to Middle Eastern waters, sending bombers, fighter jets and air defense batteries.
That comes after Trump signed an executive order in late January that recognized Yemeni Houtis as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Trump administration gave some details about the strike in the week they began, but authorities have since declined to comment on the operation, including the frequency of strikes, what they are targeting, and whether the US forces have advanced to curb the Hooty attack.
Centcom did not say which military assets were involved in the number of port strikes or casualties on Thursday, “the strike is not intended to hurt the people of Yemen.”
