US and UK Attack Yemeni Houthi Targets Backed by Iran Following Red Sea Attacks

Washington: After the Iran-backed group began attacking foreign commerce in the Red Sea late last year, the United States and Britain conducted their first attacks against locations associated with the Houthi movement in Yemen.

President Joe Biden warned in a statement late on Thursday that he would not hesitate to take more action if necessary, as witnesses in Yemen reported explosions around the nation to Reuters.

“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” Biden said.

A statement from the British Ministry of Defence said that “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow.”

“Raids” in the capital Sanaa, the towns of Saada and Dhamar, as well as the Hodeidah governorate, were verified by a Houthi spokesman, who referred to them as “American-Zionist-British aggression.”

One of the most striking examples of how the Israel-Hamas conflict has spread across the Middle East since it broke out in October is the current round of attacks.

Speaking under anonymity, a U.S. official said that planes, ships, and submarines were using these weapons to carry out the attacks. According to the official, at than a dozen places were struck, and the strikes were not only symbolic but meant to impair the Houthi military.

The Houthis, who rule over the majority of Yemen, disregarded demands from the United Nations and other international organizations to stop their drone and missile strikes on Red Sea maritime lanes, as well as threats from the US government to retaliate if they didn’t.

The Houthis claim that they are supporting Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian organization in charge of Gaza, with their strikes. Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, Israel started a military offensive in Gaza that has killed over 23,000 Palestinians.

As of right now, the Houthi have assaulted 27 ships, halting global trade on the vital corridor that connects Europe and Asia and accounts for 15% of all commercial activity worldwide.

According to witnesses who spoke with Reuters, the raids on Thursday went after military installations in the Hajjah governorate, a military camp next to Sanaa airport, a military site close to Taiz airport, and a Houthi navy base in Hodeidah.

The commander of the Houthis said earlier on Thursday that the organization would retaliate against any American strike.

After taking over much of Yemen in a civil war, the Houthis have threatened to destroy any ships that are associated with or headed toward Israeli ports. Many of the ships that were attacked, nevertheless, had no connection to Israel.

27 Houthis attacks on ships
The Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into international maritime channels in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, according to the U.S. Navy. This is the group’s 27th strike since November 19.

The Houthis launched their biggest offensive to yet on January 9 in the Red Sea, forcing the U.S. and British naval forces to shoot down 21 Houthi drones and missiles aimed at the southern Red Sea. The strikes that occurred overnight in Yemen occurred only a few days later. It was characterized as a sophisticated strike by the US military.

According to Biden’s remarks, American ships were specifically targeted by the Houthis.

More than 20 nations decided to take part in Operation Prosperity Guardian, an alliance headed by the United States that protects trade in the Red Sea. Still, the American and British attacks are happening outside that defense alliance.

According to Biden, the operation was backed by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.

In a statement, Biden said, “The international community’s response to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute.”