U.S. B-2 bombers and other aircraft struck five underground Houthi weapons storage locations in parts of Yemen that the Iranian-backed rebel group controls, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.
The strikes targeted
The strikes targeted weapons that are used to target civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the defense official said.
B-2 bombers were used to carry out the most recent strikes, which is the first time the U.S. has used that kind of aircraft in strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, a U.S. official told NBC News.
The Houthis, an Irani-backed militia that has taken over part of Yemen, started launching missiles and drones and pursuing other attacks against shipping vessels in response to the war in Gaza. The Houthis have announced their support of the terrorist group Hamas.
An annual $1 trillion flow of goods goes through the Red Sea. Some shippers responded to the attacks late last year by suspending service in the Red Sea.
The U.S. first launched airstrikes against Houthi weapons in January in response to the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
