The US B2 Spirit stealth bomber. Photo: US Air Force/ZUMA Press Wire/Sh/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia
The United States has conducted precision airstrikes on five underground munitions depots belonging to the Houthis in Yemen, using strategic “stealth” B-2 bombers, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said. The strike was the first known operation in which US forces have used B-2 bombers in their attacks on the Houthis, an Iranian-backed movement, The Guardian reported .
Austin explained that the US military destroyed several underground facilities that stored various types of weapons that the Houthis used to attack civilian and military vessels in the region.
“The deployment of B-2 Spirit bombers demonstrates the US ability to strike anywhere, anytime,” Austin said, adding that the operation was an “unprecedented demonstration.”
The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have stepped up their attacks on Israel and its vessels in recent months. They claim that their actions are a manifestation of solidarity with the Palestinian movement Hamas, which opposes Israel in the Gaza Strip.
In response, the United States and the United Kingdom regularly strike Houthi targets, but have not yet been able to completely destroy their combat capability.
