The U.S. has deployed B-2 stealth bombers for the first time against Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting underground weapons facilities as part of a strategy to secure maritime routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This strike aims to limit Houthi attacks on civilian and military vessels, serving as a warning to Iran, the Houthis' main supporter. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the U.S.'s capacity to strike adversary facilities regardless of their fortification. The use of B-2 bombers demonstrates significant military reach in the region. This operation marks an escalation in the U.S.'s military response to the Houthis' attacks, which have intensified since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The broader regional tensions include an escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with Israel launching a ground invasion and airstrikes in Lebanon, but the U.S. airstrikes remain focused on the Houthi threat.