US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces launched the first strikes of 2025 against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting two underground storage facilities. The strikes come eight days into the new year and mark the first military action since December 31.
The Houthis had claimed to have shot down a US Navy aircraft, the USS Harry S. Truman, on January 6, but CENTCOM denied the claim. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that the Houthis did not strike Truman, saying the group’s goal is to degrade capabilities and uphold international rules-based order.
CENTCOM has been slow to act in recent months, with only two strikes against Houthi targets in December. The Navy shot down an American F/A-18F Super Hornet on December 9, and the incident is still under investigation.
Houthi activity has decreased since January 1, with a focus on attacking Israel rather than commercial shipping. However, attacks did occur on December 9 and 10, when USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down Houthi weapons while escorting merchant vessels.
The Houthis’ reduced activity in the Red Sea may have contributed to a decrease in ship passage through the Bab el Mandeb Strait by around 50 percent. Some companies, like Maersk, have avoided the strait due to safety concerns, while others, such as Singaporean company SeaLead, continue to sail through the area.
While Houthi attacks may have prevented a surplus in the global container fleet, which grew by 10.6 percent in 2024, the increased costs of going around the Cape of Good Hope may have offset some benefits.
Source: https://news.usni.org/2025/01/08/u-s-central-command-launches-first-2025-strikes-against-houthis