US forces on Monday struck "in self-defense" four anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen's territory controlled by the Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which were "prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
"On Feb. 4, at approximately 5:30 am (Sanaa time) [02:30 GMT], US Central Command forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi land attack cruise missile. Beginning at 10:30 am, US forces struck four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," CENTCOM said on X.
The command added that US forces "identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region."
Earlier on Monday, local government sources in the Yemeni governorates of Al Hudaydah and Saada told Sputnik that the US and the United Kingdom carried out 15 strikes on Houthi positions in the said governorates.
"The American and British aircraft carried out 11 strikes on the governorate, including eight strikes on the Ras Issa area in Al-Salif District in the north of the city of Al Hudaydah, and three strikes targeted Az Zaydiyah District in the northeast of Al Hudaydah," a local government source in the Al Hudaydah governorate said.
He added that the airspace of the governorate, located on the coast of the Red Sea, has seen intense flights of fighter and reconnaissance planes.
"Four strikes targeted Ansar Allah's military camp on the eastern outskirts of the city of Saada, which is a stronghold of the group," a government source in the Saada governorate said.
Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, said Sunday that the US and UK militaries launched 48 airstrikes at six Yemeni governorates the previous night, adding that retaliation would follow.