U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington will not allow the Houthis to control the passage of ships, emphasizing that airstrikes will continue until the group loses its ability to attack.
A White House official said on Sunday that airstrikes in Yemen are expected to continue for several weeks.
According to the U.S.-based Alhurra TV, the official stressed that the United States has no plans to invade Yemen or deploy ground forces, but will instead carry out a series of targeted attacks on strategic sites.
Earlier, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the attacks on the Houthis on Saturday marked the beginning of a large-scale operation across Yemen aimed at defending American interests. The strikes, CENTCOM noted, are intended to deter adversaries and restore freedom of navigation in the region.