New Airstrikes on Sana’a: US Expands Target List
Yemen Monitor/ Sana’a/ Exclusive:
The US launched airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, early Tuesday morning. The US military stated that it targeted the Houthis’ operations coordination center, marking the first time it has publicly announced targeting planning and coordination headquarters for the Yemeni movement.
Residents in Sana’a reported that the attacks targeted the “Ministry of Defense” building (Al-Ordi Complex) in Al-Safiya district of the capital.
The casualties from the attack are still unknown. The Houthis referred to the targeting of the building in the group’s media and quoted an official as saying: “We affirm that the enemies of our country are unable to affect our military capabilities.”
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the airstrike on the complex – without mentioning it by name.
CENTCOM said in a statement on X : “US Central Command conducted a precision airstrike against a key command and control facility operated by the Iran-backed Houthis.”
It added: “The targeted facility was a hub for coordinating Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and commercial shipping in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
The US, often in partnership with Britain, has typically targeted Houthi camps, weapons storage facilities, and surveillance equipment since operations began last January.
CENTCOM affirmed that the strike “reflects US Central Command’s continued commitment to protecting US personnel, coalition and regional partners, and international shipping.”
Since the end of last year, the Houthis have targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They said they were targeting ships linked to Israel, which is launching a brutal attack on Gaza Strip. However, the Yemeni government and experts say that the Houthis’ goals are domestic, aimed at escaping internal crises and improving their image in the region.
In response, the US and UK have been launching airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthi militants. As a result, the Houthis have announced an expansion of their operations to include US and British ships.