Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for a fourth attack in 72 hours on an American fleet in the Red Sea. The U.S. military confirmed that its operations against the Iran-backed group were continuing.
The Huthis' military spokesperson stated that cruise missiles and drones targeted the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group in what marked the fourth strike within three days.
Earlier, U.S. Central Command reaffirmed its "ongoing operations" against the Houthi fighters backed by Iran.
The U.S. began heavy strikes against the Tehran-supported group on Saturday, sparking widespread protests in Yemen and retaliatory actions that, according to a U.S. general, largely missed their targets.
Washington has vowed to apply relentless and overwhelming force on Yemen until the Huthis cease their attacks on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—key maritime routes that account for around 12 percent of global shipping traffic.
Part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against the United States and Israel, the Huthis have been hampering the trade lane since the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
The Huthis said the US bombardment would not stop their support for Gaza.
"The US aggression will not deter the steadfast and struggling Yemen from fulfilling its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people," the Huthis said in a statement Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Hamas-allied rebels also took responsibility for a missile intercepted by Israel, and vowed to escalate attacks after the resumption of massive military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Tuesday's missile, which the Huthis said targeted an air base, was the first reported attack on Israel from Yemen since the January 19 ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, after air raid sirens sounded in Beersheba and parts of the Negev desert.
A military statement later said that "a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (air force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory."
The Huthis' supreme political council condemned "the Zionist enemy's resumption of aggression against the Gaza Strip".
The wave of Israeli strikes in Gaza, by far the deadliest since the truce took effect, killed more than 400 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The massive, overnight operation threatened to resume the devastating war, with Israel's prime minister deeming it "essential" to ensure the release of hostages in Gaza.
Hamas accused the Israeli government of effectively signing a death warrant for the remaining captives.
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