The United States has attacked Yemen’s capital with “precision airstrikes.” The Pentagon claims it has targeted an Iranian-backed Houthi “key command and control facility” in Sanaa. These strikes could push the war into a more tense situation.

The targeted facility was identified as a hub for coordinating Houthi operations, including attacks on U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Monday. This strike reflects Washington’s “ongoing commitment to protect U.S. and coalition personnel, regional partners, and international shipping,” CENTCOM said.

The latest raid comes amid heightened tensions following recent Houthi missile and drone attacks against Israel and commercial vessels. Earlier on Monday, the Houthi movement claimed that it launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at Tel Aviv which, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was intercepted by Israeli defenses without casualties.

The Yemeni Shia group has been targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea and expanding its operations to include U.S.- and U.K.-linked vessels in “solidarity” with the Palestinians amid the Israeli war with Hamas in Gaza. -RT

US Attacks Iranian Targets In Syria

Last week, the U.S. Navy reportedly repelled a Houthi attack on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden. According to CENTCOM, on December 9-10, two US destroyers, the USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS O’Kane (DDG 77), successfully destroyed unmanned aerial systems and an anti-ship cruise missile, preventing any harm to civilian ships or crew. Additionally, on November 13, US Navy ships intercepted and neutralized drones and missiles launched by the Houthis while passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Houthi Drone Boats Strike Oil Tankers In The Red Sea

Just a week ago, the New York Times reported that the Houthi attacks are still disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.

The U.S. is also looking to the United Nations for more power to intercept Red Sea shipments destined for the Houthi rebels. This is part of a concerted attempt to weaken the Iranian-backed group, according to the U.S. special envoy.