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The United States military has used B-2 Spirit bombers against Houthi rebels’ weapons storage facilities in Yemen, reportedly marking the first time the aircraft have been used in a combat mission since 2017.
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US Central Command confirmed that the aircraft had conducted multiple precision airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed underground weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to a statement published on 16 October.
The facilities were targeted due to their alleged contents of various advanced conventional weapons used to target US and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
This is the first time the US has used bombers against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
“Centcom forces targeted the Houthi’s hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions used to target military and civilian vessels throughout the region," the statement said.
“These actions were taken to degrade the Houthi’s capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping and on US, coalition, and merchant personnel and vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and to degrade their ability to threaten regional partners.
“US Air Force and US Navy assets, including US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, were part of the operation.”
Initial Centcom battle damage assessments have reportedly indicated there were no civilian casualties.
“US military forces, including US Air Force B-2 bombers, conducted precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III said.
“US forces targeted several of the Houthis’ underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region.
“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified.
“The employment of US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrate US global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere.
“For over a year, the Iran-backed Houthis, specially designated global terrorists, have recklessly and unlawfully attacked US and international vessels transiting the Red Sea, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis’ illegal attacks continue to disrupt the free flow of international commerce, threaten environmental catastrophe, and put innocent civilian lives and US and partner forces’ lives at risk.
“At the direction of President Biden, I authorised these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis’ capability to continue their destabilising behaviour and to protect and defend US forces and personnel in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”
