Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said Monday during his first public briefing at the Pentagon that the U.S. Central Command, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, launched a series of attacks at key terrorist Houthi targets in Yemen.to restore freedom of navigation and re-establish American deterrence,.
The U.S., Parnell said, will continue to use "overwhelming, lethal force" against the terrorist Houthi targets until the U.S. achieves its goals.
"There is a very clear end-state to this operation, and that begins the moment that the Houthis pledge to stop attacking our ships and putting American lives at risk," he said.
Right now, he added, it's not apparent the Houthis are interested in stopping attacks against U.S. targets.
"Firing at U.S. military personnel in the region and shooting at our ships and ... drones and putting American lives at risk is not a good way to end this conflict," Parnell said.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, director for operations for the Joint Staff, said that, under the president's direction, U.S. Central Command began precision strike operations against the Houthis to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence.
"The initial wave of strikes hit over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities," he said.
Included among those targets were terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities.
"The operation continues and will continue in the coming days until we achieve the president's objectives," Grynkewich added.