The White House said on Friday that US strikes against the Houthis will continue as long as the militias continue to threaten maritime navigation and Israel.

Commenting on the Israeli strikes on Yemen, the White House said, “Israel has the right to defend itself.”

Last Sunday, the US military said that it attacked Houthi missile storage facilities in Yemen and a “command and control facility” in several air strikes launched by its fighters on Saturday evening.

The US Central Command, Centcom, said in a statement that during the operation in Yemen, US forces also shot down several Houthi attack drones over the Red Sea, in addition to an anti-ship cruise missile.

She continued, "These strikes reflect Central Command's continued commitment to protecting American personnel and coalition partners, in addition to regional partners and protecting international navigation."

In a controversial incident, two US Navy pilots survived the crash of their plane on Sunday, over the Red Sea, after it was “accidentally” shot down by a missile fired from an American cruiser, according to what the US Army announced.

The United States formed a multinational naval coalition in the region in response to the attacks carried out by the Houthis for months off the coast of Yemen, which disrupt navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which is a vital route for international trade.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have been launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden from the areas under their control in Yemen, in what they consider “support” for the Palestinians in Gaza, where a devastating war has been raging between Israel and Hamas since the movement launched an unauthorized attack. Previously on the cover of the sector on October 7, 2023.

In response to these attacks, the United States, sometimes in conjunction with Britain, launches raids against Houthi military sites in Yemen.

Israel also launches attacks from time to time against Houthi targets in Yemen, in response to missile attacks launched by the group against Tel Aviv. 

Last Tuesday, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation confirmed that the army is considering launching an attack on the Houthi militias in Yemen.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said, “The attack will be more severe than its predecessors.”

The authority confirmed that “there is complete consensus in the security establishment on the necessity of implementing this step,” especially after the increase in missile attacks targeting Israel with missiles and drones, the latest of which resulted in the injury of at least 20 people.