US B-2 bombers hit weapon storage of Houthis in Yemen amid Middle East conflict

The strikes hit hardened underground facilities housing advanced conventional weapons, missiles, and munitions used by the Houthis to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.

In Short

• US Central Command deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers in Yemen
• Stealth bombers used in precision airstrikes on Houthi targets
• Airstrikes aimed at preventing Houthis to hit US coalition, civilian vessels

The US carried out precision strikes on Wednesday against underground weapons storage located in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, using B-2 stealth bombers against the Iran-backed terrorist group, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.

"US forces targeted several of the Houthis' underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region", Austin was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

"The employment of US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrates US global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere", Austin emphasised.

On Wednesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to conduct airstrikes targeting Houthi weapons storage.

The strikes hit underground facilities housing advanced conventional weapons, missiles, and munitions used by the Houthis to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have carried out close to 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November 2023, in solidarity with Palestinians.

The US strikes are part of an ongoing campaign to prevent the Houthis from using sophisticated weapons systems to target the US, coalition, and civilian vessels.

These actions also serve to protect US regional allies, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of whom have been the target of Houthi drone and missile attacks in recent years.

A CENTCOM spokesperson said that the airstrikes signal a clear message to Iran and its proxies, as the US aims to curb Tehran’s influence over armed groups in the region, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen.

Initial battle damage assessments suggested that the strikes successfully hit key targets without causing civilian casualties. CENTCOM said that further updates would be provided as intelligence on the operation is verified.

As conflict rages on multiple fronts, the US remains engaged in complex operations aimed at securing strategic waterways, defending its allies, and containing the spread of Iranian influence in the Middle East. The presence of the B-2 bomber, underscores its involvement in a region fraught with ongoing conflict and political turmoil.

The operation comes at a time when there are heightened tensions across the Middle East. While US forces focus on neutralising the threat posed by the Houthis to global maritime security, the broader region is engulfed in the conflict.

The Houthi forces have also attacked Israel, which has carried out strikes on its targets in Yemen.

Notably, Israel continues its intense military campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon too. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a series of air and ground strikes aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, which has expanded in recent years with support from Iran, mirroring the Houthis’ role in Yemen.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has spilt across borders, with rocket exchanges escalating along Israel’s northern front. Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israeli towns and military positions, prompting Israel to respond with precision airstrikes.

The fighting threatens to draw in other actors in the region, with Syria and Iran’s involvement deepening concerns of a broader conflict that could destabilise the region further.

With agency inputs