US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attend the dignified transfer of the remains of three US service members killed in the drone attack on the US military outpost in Jordan, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, on February 2, 2024. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt / AFP)
Washington: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States and UK launched strikes against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday.
The strikes hit buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers and other capabilities the Houthis have used to attack Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said, adding it targeted 13 locations across the country.
"This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels," the US Defense Secretary said.
"We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways," Austin added.
Saturdays strikes are the third time in recent weeks the US and UK attacked Houthi targets as part of a joint operation. On January 11, the two militaries struck approximately 30 Houthi sites. Less than two weeks later, the US and UK struck another eight sites.
