Joe Biden admitted the US’s strikes on Houthi forces in the Red Sea are “not working” but will continue.
The US President has authorised five rounds of attacks on the Houthi movement’s infrastructure since last Thursday.
Biden insisted the strikes showed the US and its allies “will not tolerate” any form of aggression towards its assets in the Red Sea after the Yemeni militant group repeatedly targeted ships in the region.
But when asked whether his strategy was successful, the US president quickly admitted it was not
Asked whether the airstrikes in Yemen are working, Biden said: “Well, when you say ‘working’ — are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they gonna continue? Yes.”
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On Thursday, a US official confirmed US forces had struck two Houthi anti-ship missiles preparing to launch in Yemen.
The strikes were launched from the Red Sea and hit 14 missiles that the command deemed an “imminent threat.”
The strikes followed an official announcement Wednesday that the US has put the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists.
The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.
Central Command said in a statement posted on X: “Forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting US forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves.”
Washington has also strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis.
On Wednesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the US would continue to take military action to prevent further attacks.
Ryder said: “They are exploiting this situation to conduct attacks against the ships and vessels from more than 50 countries … around the world.
“And so we’re going to continue to work with our partners in the region to prevent those attacks or deter those attacks in the future.”
