US forces launched their fifth hit against Houthi rebel military bases in Yemen that are backed by Iran. President Joe Biden said that the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the rebels, which have caused disruptions to international shipping, had not yet been stopped by American and British bombardment

U.S. Central Command stated in a statement uploaded to X, formerly known as Twitter, that the most recent attacks destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles that "were aimed into the southern Red Sea and prepared to launch." According to the Pentagon, Navy F/A-18 fighter planes carried them out.

Despite the fact that the U.S. has not yet prevented the Houthis from harassing military and commercial vessels, Biden declared that the US would carry on with its strikes.

"Are they stopping the Houthis, no, when you say they're working? "Yes, they will continue," Biden responded to reporters in a conversation prior to leaving the White House to give a speech on domestic policy in North Carolina.

Shortly after Biden's speech, Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed in a prerecorded message that its forces had launched another missile attack against the American-owned cargo ship Chem Ranger, which was flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. According to Saree, the incident happened in the waters immediately south of Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden.

The U.S. Central Command stated in a statement late on Thursday that the attack had no effect on the ship.

According to Central Command, "the crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship." No injuries or property damage were recorded, and the ship carried on its course.

Through a cooperative mission known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, the consortium is attempting to create a protective umbrella for the ships by intercepting any missiles or drones that target them in response to the ongoing harassment of the ships, which has prompted the United States and its international partners to take extraordinary measures to defend them. In an effort to limit the Houthis' capacity for assault, the U.S. and British armies have also taken action to take down missile launch sites, radars, and air defense systems.

The U.S. military launched yet another round of missile strikes against 14 Houthi-controlled locations on Wednesday using ship and submarine launches. The administration added the Houthis back to its list of internationally terrorist organizations with special designation that same day. Along with cutting off violent extremist groups' funding streams, the official classification carries penalties that are intended to keep essential humanitarian help from reaching Yemen's destitute citizens.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated on Thursday that "these strikes will continue for as long as they need to continue" and that "I'm not going to telegraph punches one way or another."

The Houthis continue to harass commercial and military ships in spite of sanctions and military actions, such as a massive operation on Friday by American and British warships and bombers that struck over 60 targets throughout Yemen. Iran has received stern warnings from the United States to stop arming the Houthis.

When questioned at a briefing about why the attacks haven't appeared to stop the Houthis, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh responded, "We never said the Houthis would immediately stop." The Houthis' attacks have been "lower scale" since the joint U.S. and British operation began last Friday, when it struck more than 60 targets and 28 sites. Singh said.

The Houthis have been claiming attacks on ships in the Red Sea for months, claiming that the ships are either bound for Israeli ports or have ties to Israel. They claim that their attacks are intended to put a stop to the Israeli air and military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which was set off by the attack in southern Israel on October 7 by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, as the strikes go on, the connections to the ships that the rebels are attacking become increasingly shaky.

Concerns about whether the confrontation between Israel and Hamas has already turned into a larger regional conflict have also been raised by the assaults.

"We don't believe we are at war, and we don't seek conflict. Singh stated, "We hope to prevent a regional conflict."