The United States has launched its third strike on missile sites controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military conducted its third strike against Houthi militants in Yemen, destroying four anti-ship ballistic missiles poised for launch at vessels in the Red Sea, as reported by U.S. Central Command.

In collaboration with Great Britain, the U.S. has targeted numerous missile and radar sites utilized by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen since Thursday.

These latest strikes were in response to the second successful Houthi attack on commercial shipping within two days. On Tuesday, a Houthi anti-ship missile hit the M/V Zografia, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier. No injuries were reported, and the ship continued its route through the Red Sea, according to Central Command.

Despite the Biden administration’s defense of the strikes conducted last week on Houthi targets, these actions have not dissuaded Houthi militants from carrying out further attacks in the Red Sea.

John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, stated that the United States was fully prepared for the subsequent Houthi attacks, emphasizing that these attacks have been considerably reduced in scale.

“We are confident that the strikes had a positive impact in terms of disrupting and weakening their capacity to carry out large-scale military offensives,” remarked Kirby.

Since November, the Houthis have carried out approximately 30 attacks targeting both commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. They assert that these attacks are a response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

John Kirby refrained from indicating whether the recent strikes by the U.S.-led coalition imply a continuation of further strikes against the Houthis.

“We are not seeking a war, nor do we intend to escalate this situation,” stated Kirby. “The Houthis are at a crossroads, and they still have an opportunity to make the right decision, which is to cease these irresponsible attacks.”