US, UK launch strikes on Houthi targets
The US Central Command (Centcom) said that it, alongside UK forces, launched a series of attacks on Houthi targets both inside Yemen as well as over the Red Sea.
Centcom said the two countries hit 13 Houthi targets in total and were able to successfully destroy eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) controlled by the Yemeni group.
Reports online said that Yemen's capital Sanaa was under bombardment on Thursday.
The attack on the Houthis comes after the group announced it had successfully downed an MQ-9 Reaper drone that was flying over Yemen — one of those drones costs $30m.
Shortly after Israel's war on Gaza began, the Houthi movement in Yemen said it was launching a blockade of all ships travelling to and from Israel. The Houthis said the move was being made in solidarity with the Palestinians, and that once Israel ended the war and lifted its siege on Gaza, it would end its blockade in the Red Sea.
The US and UK responded to the blockade by launching a wave of air strikes on Houthi territory in Yemen.
May 30 U.S. Central Command Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 30, 2024
Between approximately 3:15 and 5 p.m. (Sanaa time) on May 30, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen and over the Red Sea.… pic.twitter.com/uxtPyVecpU