US and British airstrikes launched across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen did not significantly impact the Houthis’ ability to launch attacks in the Red Sea, US officials have acknowledged to The New York Times.
The Pentagon said the first wave of strikes launched early Friday morning targeted around 30 locations and destroyed 60 missile and drone sites. Early Saturday morning, the US launched another strike on a radar facility US officials said was missed in the initial attack.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the US military’s joint staff, claimed on Friday that the US and British airstrikes were enough to stop the Houthis from launching a large drone and missile attack, but the US officials speaking to the Times said that wasn’t the case.
The officials said the strikes only degraded about 20-30% of the Houthis offensive capability. They said much of the Houthis’ weapons are mounted on mobile platforms that can be easily moved and hidden and that finding targets was more difficult than anticipated since the US hasn’t been collecting much intelligence on the Houthis in recent years.
The Houthis have downplayed the impact of the US and British airstrikes, saying five fighters were killed but only minimal damage was caused. Yemen’s SABA news agency reported another US and British bombing on Sunday, but US officials later denied that the US or its allies launched more strikes.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, endured a brutal bombing campaign launched by a US-backed Saudi-led coalition from 2015-2022, and they only became a more formidable fighting force during that time. The Houthis missile and drone capability significantly increased despite the air campaign and blockade, giving them the ability to hit oil fields deep inside Saudi Arabia.
Yemenis have taken a defiant tone in the face of the US and British attack on Houthi-controlled areas, which is where 70-80% of Yemen’s population lives. The Houthis have vowed a major response and said they would continue to target Israeli-linked commercial shipping in the region until the US-backed Israeli slaughter in Gaza ends.
A single strike is not going to degrade the Houthis military. It was simply a warning shot. We will see if it works.
If recent history is any guide, it won’t. I understand that you don’t want to talk about or don’t have the intellectual capacity to parse anything that has gone on in the Middle East pre October 7th, but Yemen has been under intense bombardment or years by the Saudis using many of the same weapon systems and all of the same targeting capabilities currently being deployed against them. Got it sporto?
Frank your lack of intelligent is constantly on display. You are dumb enough to think that Houthis actually care about the Palestinians they don’t. And if Houthis keep firing at the US ships, they are going to pay a heavy price.
I know more about the history of the Middle East than you do. Unlike you, I don’t have the simple minded approach that all the problems in that region are caused by Israel and/or USA.
Oh really? Have you studied Middle Eastern history at the graduate level? Have you lived and worked in the Middle East? Have you ever even been in Yemen before? Where have I stated that all problems in the Middle East are caused by the USA and Israel? That would be an absurd claim. That being said, the American military’s various interventions in the region have led to a great many problems. They have most definitely not brought stability, but rather fomented chaos. Do you admit at least that American military adventures have caused more harm than good in the Middle East?
One of the great problems: blowback.
Yes. I remember first encountering the concept in the writings of Chalmers Johnson in the early 2000s. His last book after the blowback trilogy is also a must read:
https://www.amazon.com/Dismantling-Empire-Americas-American-Project/dp/0805093036#customerReviews
The US and Britain hit an empty bag. All this gear was moved when they started threating the Houthis.
How do you know that?
Because unlike you I know something about the Houthis. They been fighting since the days Nasser sent troops to Yemen in the early ’60s and in Sept. 2021 destroyed 3 Saudi Mech brigades. Go to Col. Pat Lang’s (deceased) website, He knew them.
Who were threatening the Houthis?
Oh, you mean, after the Houthis continued attacking commercial ships while ignoring calls to stop?
Those were’t threats, they were warnings and the Houthis now are getting what they asked for.
And if you think those strikes hit nothing, I have a little story for you. Just keep on watching how events are developing
Why don’t you get on your knees and suck some more MIC cock you neocon shit stain?
Your lack of class in this response shows your lack of an education.
I don’t think it reflects on education at all. The post simply reads as an expression of unrestrained disgust and contempt, for you, Tim. As you know, a number of us around here think you’ve earned it.
Blah blah blah. Lack of class is shown when blatant atrocities are whitewashed or ignored. So get back on your knees you neocon-MIC cuck.
They were going after ships carrying cargo for Israel and said they would stop if Israel allowed supplies in Gaza. “Just keep on watching how events are developing” Yeah, swimmingly well as the GWOT has shown for 22 years. 😀
The US/UK used hundreds of missiles to destroy Houthis’ factories? Total waste of time and money. Remember Afghanistan? The trick is to destroy the Houthis’ sandal factory. Without sandals, how are they gonna get around? Flip flops?
Of course ‘we’ can’t allow the Houthis to interrupt the replenishment supply of munitions to israel via ships through the Red Sea. How else can israel continue it’s genocide on Palestinians then.
Where do you think Israeli munitions are coming from that they’d be delivered via the Red Sea? The US is Israel’s main ordnance supplier and can simply ship across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
I seen this claim before. I never understood it. Just look at map. Not to mention the amount of supplies that have come in by airplane.
As opposed to US having a lot of weapons that are mobile and exposed everywhere…!