The U.S. military continues to target Houthi anti-ship missiles that are poised to strike shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait. The attacks against Houthi missiles are no longer being conducted under the aegis of an international coalition, but directly by the U.S. military.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it destroyed 18 Houthi anti-ship missiles as they were deployed on launch rails between Jan. 17 – 20. The Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles and one drone, which struck a merchant vessel, during the same timeframe (see timeline below).

The attacks on Houthi missiles are no longer being claimed by an international coalition, as the initial two strikes were. Both the U.S. and the United Kingdom launched the initial attack on Houthis military targets. A small number of other countries said they provided support for the initial strikes. All strikes since Jan. 13 have been claimed only by the U.S. military.

The U.S. government has continually issued contradictory statements that it seeks to restore deterrence, that it does not wish to escalate the fighting, and it is not “at war with the Houthis,” even as the Houthis have directly attacked U.S. warships and U.S. owned ships passing through the Red Sea. Instead, U.S. officials have said the strikes against Houthi military targets are in “self-defense”.