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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U. S. military on Wednesday introduced a new wave of missile attacks from ships and submarines opposite Houthi-controlled sites, U. S. Central Command said, marking the fourth time in days it has attacked the organization in Yemen. In the aftermath of the war between Israel and Hamas, Hamas continues to expand in the Middle East.
The measures were introduced from the Red Sea and hit 14 missiles that the command considers an “imminent threat. “The measures follow an official announcement Wednesday that the United States has put the Houthis back on the list of globally designated terrorists. The sanctions accompanying this official’s designation are aimed at isolating violent extremist teams from their funding resources.
“Forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen,” Central Command said in a statement posted on X late Wednesday. “These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves.”
Despite sanctions and army strikes, plus a large-scale operation on Friday with U. S. and British warships and warplanes that hit more than 60 targets across Yemen, the Houthis continue their crusade of harassment against advertising and army ships. The most recent incident occurred on Wednesday when a one-way attack drone smuggled in from a Houthi-controlled domain in Yemen and struck the U. S. -owned and operated Marshall Islands-flagged M/V Genco Picardie in the Gulf of Aden.
The U.S. has also strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis. On Thursday a U.S. raid on a dhow intercepted ballistic missile parts the U.S. said Iran was shipping to Yemen. Two U.S. Navy SEALs remain unaccounted for after one was knocked off the vessel by a wave during the seizure and the second followed the overcome SEAL into the water.
On Wednesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U. S. would continue to take military action to prevent further attacks.
“They are exploiting this scenario to provoke attacks on ships and vessels from more than 50 countries. . . around the world. We will continue to work with our partners in the region to save them or deter such attacks in the future,” Ryder. saying.
Several incidents have occurred since Friday’s joint operations. The Houthis fired an anti-shipping cruise missile at a U. S. Navy destroyer over the weekend, but the shipment shot it down. The Houthis then attacked a U. S. cruise missile in the Gulf of Aden on Monday and a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea on Tuesday. In reaction on Tuesday, the U. S. struck four anti-shipment ballistic missiles that were in a position to be released and posed an imminent risk to U. S. merchant and Navy shipments in the region.
Hours later, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Zografia. The ship collided, but there were no injuries and continued on its way.
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Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed from Washington.
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