Washington: The United States and Britain launched another round of large-scale military strikes on Saturday against multiple sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, US officials said.

The strikes were intended to degrade the Iran-backed militants’ ability to attack ships in sea lanes that are critical for global trade, a campaign they have carried out for almost four months.

US and British warplanes hit missile systems and launchers and other targets, the officials said. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand provided support for the operation, according to a joint statement from the countries involved that was emailed to reporters by the US Defence Department.

Australia supported the attacks via its personnel in military headquarters, Australian government sources said, as it has done in previous US-led actions against the Houthis.

The strikes, which the statement called “necessary and proportionate”, hit 18 targets across eight locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter.

“These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of innocent mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” the statement said.

Earlier on Saturday, the naval destroyer USS Mason shot down what US Central Command said was an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their attacks are a protest against Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which was launched in response to attacks by Hamas in Israel on October 7.