The United States carried out a major wave of airstrikes on Wednesday, targeting Houthi positions across Yemen. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, over 50 sites were hit across northern, central, and western provinces.

While the Houthi group has not confirmed casualty figures, they warned that the attacks “will not go unanswered” and vowed to continue targeting vessels linked to the US or Israel.

This escalation follows an incident on Tuesday night, reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), where a vessel about 100 nautical miles east of Aden was pursued by armed individuals in small boats. Shots were fired, but the vessel safely altered course toward the Yemeni coastline, and no crew members were harmed.

This marks the first such incident in the region reported by UKMTO in months.

The strikes come just days after the Houthis claimed to have shot down another US MQ-9 drone—reportedly the 19th since November 2023—using a locally made surface-to-air missile in Yemen’s Hajjah province. The group claimed the drone was conducting “hostile missions.”

The US renewed its air campaign against the Houthis on March 15, aiming to deter attacks on US and Israeli naval assets in the Red Sea. Despite these efforts, Houthi forces continue to assert that their military capabilities remain strong.

Since November 2023, the Houthis—who control much of northern Yemen—have been launching attacks in support of Palestinians in Gaza, as the conflict with Israel continues.