U.S. military says it conducts airstrikes on 15 Houthi targets in Yemen

This photo taken by cell phone shows smoke rising following airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Oct. 4, 2024. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday its forces conducted airstrikes on 15 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. (Photo by Mohammed Azaki/Xinhua)

SANAA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday its forces conducted airstrikes on 15 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

In a post on the social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that "these targets included Houthi offensive military capabilities."

"These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels," CENTCOM said, without providing further details.

Earlier in the day, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that the U.S.-British navy coalition conducted 15 airstrikes on Houthi military sites in four Yemeni cities: the capital Sanaa, Hodeidah, Dhamar, and Mukayras city in al-Bayda province.

There were no reports of casualties.

The Houthi television said in its news bulletin that the U.S.-British coalition airstrikes hit "empty areas in the military sites."

Hashim Sharaf al-Din, a spokesperson for the Houthi-run administration, said in a statement via al-Masirah TV that the U.S.-British airstrikes "will not scare" the group, vowing more attacks against Israeli cities and Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen's Houthi group has seized control of Sanaa and large swathes of the country since late 2014 after forcing the internationally recognized government out of the capital.

The group has launched sporadic attacks on Israel and disrupted "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea since November last year, allegedly to support Palestinians in their conflict with Israelis.

In response, the U.S.-British navy coalition stationed in the region has conducted regular air raids and missile strikes since January against Houthi targets to deter the group. 

This photo taken by cell phone shows smoke rising following airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Oct. 4, 2024. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday its forces conducted airstrikes on 15 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. (Photo by Mohammed Azaki/Xinhua)