WASHINGTON, Feb 5, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - American forces carried out air strikes

against five missiles in Yemen on Sunday -- one designed for land attack and
the others for targeting ships, the US military said.

The strikes came a day after US and UK forces launched a wave of air raids
against Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis -- their third round of joint military
action in response to the rebels' persistent attacks on shipping.

US forces "conducted a strike in self-defense against a Huthi... land attack
cruise missile," and later struck "four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of
which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," Central Command
(CENTCOM) said on social media.

American forces "identified the missiles in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen
and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and
merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM added.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were
hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has
been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

US and UK forces responded with strikes against the Huthis, who have since
declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Anger over Israel's devastating campaign in Gaza -- which began after an
unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 -- has grown across the Middle East,
stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and
Yemen.

On January 28, a drone slammed into a base in Jordan, killing three US
soldiers and wounding more than 40 -- an attack Washington blamed on Iran-
backed forces.

The US responded Friday with a series of unilateral strikes on Iran-linked
targets in Syria and Iraq.