The Iranian-backed Houthis are likely to retaliate for strikes by the United States and Britain against dozens of targets in Yemen, which the rebels have used to attack commercial ships and U.S. warships, the Pentagon said. a senior military official said on Friday.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, who heads the Joint Staff's operations directorate, said in a phone call with reporters that neither the U.S. nor the Houthis yet know the extent of the damage from Thursday night's shelling. But Sims said it is “in the DNA” of the Houthis to continue carrying out attacks that provide no immediate benefit, despite recognizing that the United States will not slow its efforts to ensure freedom on the high seas. he said.
“My guess is that the Houthis are trying to figure things out on the ground and trying to determine what capabilities still exist. You know, their rhetoric is very “It's very powerful and sophisticated. I expect they'll try to retaliate in some way,” Sims said. (Related article: Biden issues written statement after US bombs Houthis for third consecutive day without public event)
Sims said U.S. aircraft, warships and a submarine fired 150 rounds of various types of ammunition at dozens of targets at 28 locations.rear impressive Sims said the U.S. conducted a second round of strikes on 12 more targets, including more than 60 targets, including radars, missile launch sites and storage facilities, ammunition depots, and 16 other targets.
Houthis launched Sims confirmed that a ballistic missile was fired at the merchant ship after Friday's attack. Although the missile missed its target, Sims said it showed the group's persistent attempts to cut off trade through the vital waterway.
“We know they fired at least one missile in retaliation,” Sims said.
The Houthis say the attacks targeted only ships heading to Israeli ports or with ties to Israel and were carried out in opposition to the war with Hamas in Gaza, but a senior Biden administration official said: Stated. I got it. Thursday, the target was random.
The Iranian government provides the Houthis with funding, training, and weapons that they use in attacks on international maritime traffic. Sims said the Houthis are receiving instructions from Iran.
Reporter: “Bombing the Houthis — are you going to continue the attacks if they don’t stop?”
President Biden: “Together with our allies, we will ensure that we respond to the Houthis as they continue this heinous act.” pic.twitter.com/xJoXA6fcdL
— The Recount (@therecount) January 12, 2024
He said Iran should realize that continued conflict in the region is “not to its advantage.” “I hope that any consideration of actual retaliation will be based on a clear understanding that we are not going to be interfered with here.”
“I don't think they want us to attack,” Sims said. “If you were operating a ballistic missile launcher last night, you wouldn't have wanted us to attack you.”
Sims said he was optimistic that the Houthis no longer have the capacity to carry out complex operations like the one on Tuesday, when multiple U.S. warships shot down 24 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in a single attack. I showed my point of view.
“We know our capabilities are diminished. I don't think they'll be able to do what they did the other day, but we'll see,” he said.
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