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The Houthis have targeted U.S. naval vessels a staggering 174 times and commercial shipping on 145 occasions in the past 18 months. The Secretary referred to the Houthis as a "band of pirates" equipped with advanced, precision-guided missiles, underscoring the urgency to eliminate their capability to disrupt one of the world's most vital shipping lanes. The campaign will continue until the Houthis' disruptive power is neutralized, distinguishing it from previous U.S. military responses—which were often solely retaliatory following an attack.