US General: We use long-range bombers to destroy Houthi command and control headquarters and weapons depots in Yemen

Former Deputy Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Mark Fox, said that the United States continues to confront the Houthi threats to international navigation, and to ensure that this group is prevented from restoring its military capabilities with the support of Iran.

In an interview with Alhurra, Fox described the Houthi threat as a "multifaceted problem" that requires a lot of patience, adding that the United States has taken different approaches to deal with these threats, through American ships "that defend freedom of navigation in the southern Red Sea region by monitoring, intercepting and targeting drones."

He pointed out that the United States also uses long-range B2 bombers and other weapons, in addition to intercepting weapons smuggled from Iran to Yemen, and targeting control and command headquarters and weapons depots.

November 13, US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers fly within US Central Command area of responsibility pic.twitter.com/DKedfTJrwZ

- US Central Command (@CENTCOMArabic) November 15, 2024

Fox stressed that the Houthis do not currently have the ability to use ballistic missiles, for example, but he expected that they would continue to attempt to carry out attacks "to which the United States would be prepared to respond."

The American general highlighted a problem that he called for dealing with, which is "the Houthis' continuous acquisition of weapons from Iran or their attempts to manufacture these weapons, and it is important to know the places where these weapons are manufactured and stored in order to target them."

Fox said that the Houthis resort to the same method used by terrorist groups, which is storing weapons underground, in caves, or in residential areas, and that the United States has several ways to locate these stores and their launch areas, "but the difficulty lies in locating the platforms and mobile headquarters."

He described the Houthis as a "reckless and rogue" group that serves no party in the region, and whose actions only cause destruction in Yemen. He said, "The Houthis resort to a cat-and-mouse game, but at the end of the day we succeeded in defending ourselves and our allies and were able to secure maritime navigation."

Escalating tensions

The Houthi group launched a multi-pronged attack on the US Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Spruance in the Bab al-Mandab Strait using drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, all of which were successfully intercepted.

But the American magazine The National Interest said that this incident highlights the escalation of tensions, as the United States responds by launching air strikes on Houthi weapons facilities.

The magazine published an analysis by Harrison Cass, a writer in the field of defense and national security, in which he said, “While no raids targeted American warships, the threat highlights the vulnerabilities in confronting asymmetric and low-tech opponents despite advanced American naval systems.”

A successful Houthi attack could raise public awareness of the risks inherent in global military deployment, prompting a reassessment of U.S. priorities and tactics in contested areas, he added.

It is possible, though unlikely, that such a strike would force the American public to reconsider American military priorities and tactics, as the American people might ask more candid questions such as: How should American forces be deployed? And what is worth risking American lives and treasure?

If such a strike were to be carried out, the Pentagon would have to reconsider, and it may already be doing so. The U.S. Navy is designed for conflict with nation-states like Russia and China, and the U.S. Navy’s inventory, which consists of sophisticated machines and advanced weapons, is expensive and advanced.

The ability of the Houthi rebels, who rely on relatively low-tech weapons, to put such expensive and advanced ships at risk is embarrassing and worrisome, and could prompt changes in military doctrine. No Houthi attack on a U.S. warship has so far succeeded, but the threat seems real enough to be worrisome.