It was the first time the U.S. used these stealth bombers against the Houthis, who have targeted commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Pentagon says the US has carried out what it called "precision strikes" against five weapons storage locations in parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthi group. The US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said US forces - including long-range bombers - targeted underground facilities housing weapons components that were being used to attack civilian and military ships in the region.