Since January, American and British forces, engaged in Operation “Guardian of Prosperity”, have carried out several air raids in Yemen, in order to degrade the military capabilities used by Houthi rebels. [liés à l’Iran] to attack commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Recently, the US Air Force mobilized B-2 Spirit strategic bombers to target five underground weapons depots held by the Houthis… but also to send a message to Iran, in a context marked by high tensions with Israel . “This is a unique demonstration of the United States' ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, regardless of how deep, hardened or robust they are,” he said. elsewhere commented the Pentagon.
In any case, on the night of November 10 to 11, American forces placed under the authority of US CENTCOM [commandement pour le Moyen-Orient et l’Asie centrale] carried out new airstrikes against the military infrastructure of the Houthi rebels.
The targeted sites “were home to a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target military and civilian vessels […] sailing in the international waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden”, indicated General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson, on November 12.
“US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F-35C fighter jets, were involved in these strikes, which were a response to Houthi attacks on commercial, US and foreign vessels. coalition in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. […] We will continue to make it clear to the Houthis that there will be consequences for their illegal and irresponsible attacks,” he added.
However, this is the first time that the Pentagon has mentioned the participation of F-35C embarked fighter-bombers in combat operations.
The other two versions of the F-35 have already had their baptism of fire. Indeed, in September 2018, F-35Bs [à décollage court et à atterrissage vertical – STOVL] du Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 [VMFA 211] “Wake Island Avengers” carried out, for the first time, airstrikes from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex. The intended targets were in the Afghan province of Kandahar. Then, in April 2019, F-35As from the 388th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force did the same, but in Iraq, against positions held by the Islamic State [EI ou Daesh].
That being said, and contrary to what General Ryder said, the F-35Cs engaged in the latest raids against the Houthis did not belong to the US Navy… but to the US Marine Corps [USMC]more precisely at VMFA 314 “Black Knights”. This squadron is part of the air group aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which was cruising in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the incident.
As a reminder, the carrier strike group formed around the USS Abraham Lincoln has been under the responsibility of US CENTCOM since last August.
The fact remains that these latest American strikes have in no way encouraged the Houthis to “take their foot off the gas”.
On November 11, while sailing in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, two US Navy “destroyers”, namely the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance, were targeted by at least eight remotely operated munitions. [MTO]five ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles. All were “successfully engaged and intercepted,” the Pentagon argued.
“The ships were not damaged. No staff member was injured,” he said.
It is unknown whether Mirage 2000-5s from the 3/11 Corsica squadron, based in Djibouti, were requested to ensure the protection of these two US Navy vessels during their transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In fact, these devices regularly carry out so-called SUCAP missions. [Surface Close Air Protection]which consist of establishing a protected zone above the ships of allied and partner countries.
In any case, we should undoubtedly expect other air raids against the Houthis' military infrastructure… According to a recent report by the United Nations group of experts on Yemen, the latter benefit from support “without precedent” from Iran and armed groups affiliated with it, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah.
“The Houthi movement has gone from a local armed group with limited capabilities to a powerful military organization, which has extended its operational capabilities well beyond the territories it controls,” states this report, which covers a period running from September 2023 to the end of July 2024. “The scale, nature and volume of transfers by external sources of various military equipment and technologies to the Houthis, including financial support and training of fighters, are unprecedented” , he continues.
If the strengthening of the Houthis' military capabilities was made possible by significant Iranian aid, Russia could enter the game, if it has not already done so. Indeed, Moscow would have communicated to them targeting data to attack ships cruising in the Red Sea and would be preparing to provide them with Yakhont anti-ship missiles [ou P-800 Oniks].
