Watch: US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen – and shoots down cruise missile

US forces have conducted a series of airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi facilities in Yemen to disrupt further attacks in the Red Sea against merchant vessels and military personnel. 

Precision airstrikes were carried out on targets including a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.

US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets were involved in the attacks, which were announced not long after a friendly fire incident involving the same type of aircraft over the Red Sea.

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US Central Command (Centcom) forces were responsible for the airstrikes against the Houthi group.

The same forces carried out the airstrikes in Syria last week which killed an Islamic State (ISIS) leader called Abu Yusif.

Centcom said the latest attacks had been carried out to "disrupt and degrade Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden".

The US Department of Defence said: "During the operation, Centcom forces also shot down multiple Houthi one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) over the Red Sea.

"The operation involved US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F/A-18s.

"The strike reflects Centcom's ongoing commitment to protect US and coalition personnel, regional partners and international shipping."