U.S. B-2 bombers and other aircraft struck five underground Houthi weapons storage locations in parts of Yemen that the Iranian-backed rebel group controls, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.

U.S. military forces hit underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of north-western areas of Yemen overnight, targeting the Iran-backed group's ability to attack vessels in the Red Sea.

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 US says it has carried out "precision strikes" against five weapons storage locations in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi movement. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were part of the operation that targeted hardened underground facilities housing missiles and other munitions that the Iran-backed group had used to attack civilian and military ships.

The bombing is designed to stop the Iran-backed group from attacking commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Pentagon said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said the strikes targeted underground facilities that store various weapons components that Houthis use against civilians