Official statements from the US Department of Defense or CENTCOM

US Strikes Iran-Backed Houthis in Yemen After Missile Attacks on Israel and USS Harry Truman

Dec 31, 2024, 01:27 PM

The United States military conducted multiple precision airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on December 30 and 31, 2024. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes targeted Houthi command and control facilities, advanced weapons production and storage sites—including missiles and drones—as well as a coastal radar installation in Sana'a and other Houthi-controlled regions. Among the targets were the Ministry of Defense building, the May 22 Complex, and the Al-Ardi Security Complex in Yemen's capital. The operations were in response to recent Houthi attacks, including the launch of a "Palestine-2" hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and a "Zulfiqar" ballistic missile aimed at a power station south of Jerusalem. The Houthis also claimed to have attacked the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman with drones and cruise missiles in the Red Sea. CENTCOM stated that the strikes aimed to degrade the Houthis' ability to threaten regional partners, military, and commercial vessels in the region, noting that US forces destroyed seven cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea.