CENTCOM: Gen. Michael Kurilla discussed with Yemeni army chief of staff intensifying efforts to combat Houthi naval attacks

The US Central Command announced today, Tuesday, that its commander, General Michael Eric Kurilla, discussed with the Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Army, Lieutenant General Saghir bin Aziz, intensifying efforts to combat the naval attacks of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

Central Command said that General Kurilla concluded a regional visit from November 16-22, during which he met with Lieutenant General Bin Saghir, political and military officials in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, respectively.

The statement said that the meetings discussed the situation in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden, in light of the Houthi militia's continued attacks on cargo ships and threats to international navigation.

CENTCOM said that from November 20-21, while in Saudi Arabia, General Kurilla met with Lt. Gen. Sagheer Hamoud Ahmed Aziz, Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, who had traveled from Yemen for the visit.

"The leaders discussed visions for the Iranian-backed Houthis and increased efforts to combat Houthi attacks on military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab," she added.

The Central Command stated in its statement that General Kurilla hosted the US Central Command Leaders Conference at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, during the period from November 16 to 18, and discussed with them the current security situation in the US Central Command area of responsibility, opportunities for enhancing security cooperation, and efforts to confront violent extremist organizations, such as ISIS and the Iranian-backed Houthis.

Yesterday evening, the US Central Command announced that an American warship had joined its area of responsibility, as its naval operation "Prosperity Guardian" continues to deter Houthi militia attacks targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden, for more than a year, and it says that it is in support of Gaza, which has been subjected to an Israeli war of extermination since October 7, 2023.

"CENTCOM" added that the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham ( DDG 109 ) is passing through the Suez Canal in the US Central Command area of responsibility.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) transits through the Suez Canal in the US Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/8JlDQfPVsZ

— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 25, 2024