This is the first time the United States has used the stealth aircraft to attack the Houthis in Yemen since the start of the US campaign.
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The United States launched early Thursday morning airstrikes in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthis targeting five underground weapons storage facilities using long-range B-2 stealth bombers, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The extent of the damage caused by these strikes is not yet known.
It is extremely rare for the B-2 Spirit to be used for strikes targeting the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor in response to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The B-2 is much larger than the fighter jets that have been used so far to target Houthi facilities and weapons, and it is capable of carrying a much larger bomb load.
The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reported airstrikes around Yemen’s capital Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014without giving precise information on the damage or victims.
The US strike is seen as an indirect warning from Washington to Iran, the main backer of the Houthis, which has targeted Israel twice with ballistic missile attacks since the start of the Gaza war.
“This is a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, even if they are buried deep underground, hardened or fortified.”says Lloyd Austin.
