On Wednesday, Yemen’s Huthi rebels claimed that overnight airstrikes in Hodeida province killed four people, blaming the attack on the United States. Huthi health ministry spokesperson Anees Alasbahi reported that the death toll from the airstrike on the Water Management building in Hodeida had risen to four, with three others injured.
Huthi media reported that US strikes targeted areas controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, including water infrastructure in Hodeida, and also hit regions in Hajjah and Saada, the group’s northern stronghold. The United States has not confirmed the strikes.
US President Donald Trump had previously vowed that attacks on the Huthis would continue until they no longer posed a threat to maritime shipping. Early Wednesday, Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman for the third time in 24 hours.
The Pentagon confirmed that it was increasing its naval presence in the Middle East, sending another aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to join the Truman. The two carriers would work to ensure regional stability, deter aggression, and protect free-flowing commerce in the region, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
Since March 15, the US has launched a campaign of airstrikes against the Huthis to curb their threats to shipping routes. In retaliation, the Huthis have claimed attacks on US military ships and Israel. The Huthis had previously targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as Israeli territory, in a show of solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. After truce talks stalled, the US resumed strikes in response to the Huthis’ threats to resume attacks on vessels over Israel’s aid blockade on Gaza.
The Huthi attacks have disrupted key maritime routes, affecting about 12 percent of global shipping traffic, causing many companies to reroute their shipments around southern Africa.