Yemen Monitor/Washington/Exclusive:
A Pentagon spokesperson said late Thursday that a mission targeting deep underground Houthi weapons storage facilities was performed successfully.
Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told a press conference followed by Yemen Monitor that “US military forces, including Air Force B-2 bombers, carried out precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”
He added, “The US forces targeted numerous secret Houthi facilities containing various weapon components of the types used by the Houthis to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region.”
The full impact of the bomber strike is not yet known, but US Central Command is conducting an assessment, according to the Pentagon.
Ryder said the mission was successful: “We hit exactly what we intended to hit.”
He noted that the mission sent a message to the Houthis: “There will continue to be consequences for their illegal and reckless attacks that endanger the lives of innocent civilians and US and partner forces.”
The US airstrikes early Thursday targeting Houthi sites in the capital Sana’a and Sa’ada province, the group’s stronghold, mark the first time the US has used B-2 Spirit (stealth bombers) to attack the Houthis in Yemen since the start of the US campaign in January.
The Houthis have targeted more than 150 commercial ships with missiles and drones since the start of the war in Gaza in October. They seized one ship and sank two in the campaign, which also killed four sailors. Coalition forces led by the United States have also intercepted other missiles and drones in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which also included Western military vessels.
In response, the US and Britain have been carrying out a campaign of airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi group since January 11. As a result, the Houthis announced an expansion of their operations to include US and British ships.
