US Military Says it Destroyed Houthi Missile Launcher, Explosion Reported Near Ship

Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
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US Military Says it Destroyed Houthi Missile Launcher, Explosion Reported Near Ship

Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA

US forces successfully destroyed a Houthi missile and launcher in Yemen, US Central Command said in a statement on Saturday.

Britain's marine security agency on Saturday reported a small explosion near a vessel 170 nautical miles east of Yemen's Aden, an area where the Houthis have been targeting commercial ships in solidarity with Palestinians.

UKMTO initially said the incident happened southwest of Aden.

"An armed security team observed a small explosion near the vessel," the UKMTO advisory said, quoting the master of the MV Groton, who said there was no damage and all crew members were safe.

If the Houthis claim responsibility, the incident would be their first since Israel carried out a retaliatory airstrike against the group in the port of Hodeidah.

International shipping in the region has been disrupted by Houthi attacks since November. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.



Suspected US Airstrikes in Yemen Kill at Least 4 People Near Hodeidah

A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Suspected US Airstrikes in Yemen Kill at Least 4 People Near Hodeidah

A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

Suspected US airstrikes battered Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into Wednesday, with the militias saying that one strike killed at least four people near the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

The intense campaign of airstrikes in Yemen under US President Donald Trump, targeting the militias over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, has killed at least 65 people, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis.

The campaign appears to show no signs of stopping as the Trump administration again linked their airstrikes on the Iranian-backed Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. While so far giving no specifics about the campaign and its targets, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt put the overall number of strikes on Tuesday at more than 200.

“Iran is incredibly weakened as a result of these attacks, and we have seen they have taken out Houthi leaders,” Leavitt said. “They’ve taken out critical members who were launching strikes on naval ships and on commercial vessels and this operation will not stop until the freedom of navigation in this region is restored.”

Overnight, a likely US airstrike targeted what the Houthis described as a “water project” in Hodeidah governorate's Mansuriyah District, killing four people and wounding others. Other strikes into Wednesday targeted Hajjah, Saada and Sanaa governorates, the militias said.