On the 15th, a statement on social media indicated that the use of "overwhelming lethal force" would be employed against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. From the night of the 15th to the early morning of the 16th local time, multiple areas in Yemen under Houthi control, including the capital Sanaa and Saada province, were hit by US air strikes, resulting in at least 24 deaths and dozens of injuries. Why is the US targeting the Houthi rebels? What is the strength of the Houthi rebels? And how will the situation develop?
### Why the Strike Now?
According to reports on the 15th, the US launched a large - scale military operation against Yemen from the air and sea that day, focusing on targeting the Houthi rebels' radar, air defense, missile, and drone systems, with the aim of "opening up the Red Sea shipping lanes".
The statement on social media referred to the Houthi rebels as "terrorists". It noted that in the past year or more, they had frequently attacked US and allied ships, aircraft, and drones in the Red Sea region. It stated that "overwhelming lethal force" would be used against the Houthi rebels, and at the same time, a warning was issued that support for the Houthi rebels must stop immediately.
US officials said that this would be one of the most important military operations after a certain period, and it was also a warning.
Analysts pointed out that previous attacks by the Houthi rebels on ships and aircraft of the US, UK, Israel and other countries in the Red Sea region had seriously affected the shipping of these countries through the Red Sea. During a previous administration, the US and UK had launched multiple air strikes against the Houthi rebels, but failed to effectively stop their actions in the Red Sea. This new strike aims to severely damage the Houthi rebels' military capabilities, rendering them unable to launch attacks in the Red Sea.
### The Strength of the Houthi Rebels
Reports from multiple sources show that since September 2014 when the Houthi rebels captured Sanaa and forced the Yemeni government to move to Aden in the south, the Houthi rebels' military strength has grown rapidly, transforming from a guerrilla force into a regular army.
UN reports indicate that the Houthi rebels currently have more than 350,000 combatants. However, the US Pentagon estimates that the number of Houthi combatants exceeds 800,000, and their equipment includes thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, self - propelled guns, as well as hundreds of various types of fighter jets and armed helicopters.
The Houthi rebels claim on their controlled media to possess various types of advanced drones and multiple series of missiles, including the "Yafa" long - range multi - purpose drone. This drone is equipped with a high - explosive warhead, can avoid radar detection, and has strong penetration capabilities. In addition, the "Palestine 2" hypersonic missile in their arsenal has a range of up to 2,150 kilometers, high mobility, and can evade powerful air defense systems.
Currently, the Houthi rebels control about one - third of Yemen's territory and 70% - 80% of the population. They occupy the capital Sanaa and the important Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. The areas under Houthi control also cover about two - thirds of Yemen's Red Sea coast, and their influence extends to the Bab el - Mandeb Strait, which is of great strategic importance in global shipping.
### How the War Situation Will Develop
The Houthi rebels in Yemen said that from the night of the 15th to the early morning of the 16th, air strikes hit areas such as Sanaa, Saada province, and Dhamar province, causing at least 24 deaths, including women and children, and dozens of injuries. According to the Houthi - controlled Masirah TV, the targets of the air strikes in Sanaa included a Houthi military base and a local university. A power plant in northern Saada province was attacked and lost power.
The Houthi leadership accused these air strikes of being "war crimes" in a statement and said they were ready to "respond to escalation with escalation". Nasr al - Din Amir, the deputy director of the Houthi media office, said on social media that the Houthi rebels would not be intimidated by the air strikes and would retaliate against the US. "Sanaa will continue to shield and support Gaza. No matter what challenges we face, we will not abandon Gaza."
A US official revealed to the media on the 15th that the military operation against the Houthi rebels could last for several weeks.
Analysts believe that although the US has an overwhelming military advantage over the Houthi rebels, the Houthi rebels have shown strong military resilience in previous attacks by the US, UK, and Israel. They not only have an independent military - industrial system but are also good at leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, using low - cost drones and missiles to attack opponents. Moreover, the complex terrain in Yemen and the high level of popular support the Houthi rebels enjoy in their controlled areas have made it difficult for the other side to conduct intelligence work and have weakened the actual effect of the US air strikes on the Houthi rebels.