The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced a series of significant military operations on April 18, targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv with a Zulfiqar ballistic missile and launching attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Carl Vinson in the Red Sea.

These actions came just hours after U.S. airstrikes in Hodeidah Governorate killed at least 74 Yemenis and injured over 100 others.

According to YAF spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the coordinated operation involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, marking the first time the USS Carl Vinson has been targeted since its deployment to the Red Sea.

Saree emphasized that these actions are a direct response to U.S. and Israeli military escalations, particularly in Gaza, where the YAF has expressed unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

Saree also reported the successful downing of an American MQ-9 drone over Sanaa Governorate using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. This marks the fifth advanced U.S. drone shot down by Yemeni forces in three weeks, highlighting the intensifying conflict between Yemen and U.S.-led forces.

The Yemeni leadership has condemned the U.S. airstrikes on the Ras Issa oil port in Hodeidah as a “war crime,” vowing retaliation. Ansarallah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi revealed that the U.S. has conducted 900 airstrikes against Yemen since mid-March, while Yemeni forces have launched 78 missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets.

The ongoing conflict, which began in January 2024, has raised concerns within the Pentagon about the strain on U.S. military readiness, particularly in the Pacific. Congressional officials have warned that the high operational tempo of U.S. forces in the Middle East is impacting maintenance and preparedness for potential conflicts elsewhere, including with China.

The situation underscores the escalating tensions in the region, with Yemen asserting its military capabilities and aligning its operations with broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly in support of Palestine. The international community continues to monitor these developments as the conflict shows no signs of abating.

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