Western strikes on Houthis mostly failed – NYT

The US-led group hit almost all targets but knocked out only about 25% of the militia’s assets, the report claims

Sailors conduct pre-flight checks on an F/A-18E Super Hornet 105 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on July 6, 2017. ©  Nathan T. BEARD / US NAVY / AFP

The US-led strikes on alleged positions of Houthi militias in Yemen have failed to significantly weaken their military potential and prevent them from further attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing sources.

According to the first assessment of Friday’s barrage cited by the paper, the attacks hit 90% of designated targets. However, two US officials suggested that while the strikes had destroyed or damaged more than 60 drone and missile sites, the Houthis still retained about 70-80% of their military capability. The article added that some of the militia’s assets are also mobile, meaning they could be hidden if necessary.

Read more