U.S. B-2 Bombers Strike Houthi Rebel Underground Bunkers in Yemen Amid Red Sea Tensions
In a high-stakes military operation early Thursday morning, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers launched airstrikes targeting underground bunkers used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, U.S. defense officials confirmed. These bunkers, believed to house critical weapons storage facilities, were struck amidst ongoing Houthi assaults on maritime vessels in the Red Sea corridor.
No Immediate Reports on Damage
The full extent of the damage from the strikes remains unclear, with no immediate reports from either U.S. authorities or Houthi officials. However, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged airstrikes in and around the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and their stronghold in Saada without providing further details on casualties or destruction.
B-2 Stealth Bombers Target Underground Weapons Storage
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the airstrikes focused on five underground weapons storage sites in Houthi-controlled territories. The B-2 bombers were explicitly deployed due to their unique capability to penetrate heavily fortified bunkers. These facilities are essential for the Houthi rebels, who have been in a protracted war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015.
“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified,” Austin said, highlighting the precision and effectiveness of the B-2 bomber strikes.
The attack also appeared to serve as an indirect warning to Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter. The B-2 bomber is the only U.S. aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator,” a bomb designed to destroy deeply buried and fortified targets—making it a strategic asset for potential future strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
No Civilian Casualties Reported
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, indicated that preliminary assessments showed no civilian casualties. The strikes aim to disrupt Houthi capabilities without harming civilians, demonstrating the U.S. military’s commitment to minimizing collateral damage.
Red Sea Corridor Under Siege
For months, the Houthis have been targeting ships passing through the Red Sea, a strategically important waterway that once facilitated over $1 trillion in cargo each year. Since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the Houthis have intensified their maritime campaign, targeting over 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones. These attacks have resulted in the sinking of two ships and the deaths of four sailors. U.S. and allied forces in the region have intercepted additional threats, preventing further damage to Western military and commercial vessels.
Houthi Justifications and Global Implications
The Houthis claim they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., and the United Kingdom in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked had no direct connection to the conflict, with some bound for Iran.
The Houthis have also been actively launching missiles toward Israel and have taken down several U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones in the region. Their leadership has threatened more attacks in response to Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Entrenched and Fortified Rebel Bases
The Houthi bunkers targeted in Thursday’s strikes align with known underground installations used by the rebels. Many of these bunkers were initially constructed to house Scud missiles during the reign of Yemen’s former leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh. According to reports by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Houthis have expanded these facilities significantly in recent years.
Their strategic use of tunnels mirrors Iran’s extensive network of underground military bases. These fortified sites are critical to the Houthis’ ability to endure long-term conflicts and maintain their military capabilities against the Saudi-led coalition.
Rare Deployment of B-2 Spirit Bombers
The B-2 Spirit bomber, a nuclear-capable aircraft valued at approximately $1 billion per unit, is rarely deployed in combat. Its primary use has been in high-profile missions, including Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya air campaigns. Based at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri, the aircraft undertakes long-range missions, such as Thursday’s operation, to deliver precision strikes.
As tensions in the Red Sea and the broader Middle East escalate, the U.S. demonstrates its readiness to deploy its most advanced military assets in response to threats posed by non-state actors like the Houthis and their backers in Tehran.