US and UK Launch Airstrikes in Yemen, Targeting Houthi-Linked Sites
The United States and Britain conducted airstrikes against Houthi-linked sites in Yemen, marking the first direct military action against the Iran-backed group since it targeted international shipping in the Red Sea.
President Joe Biden stated that the strikes aimed to send a clear message against attacks on personnel and threats to navigation freedom. Britain’s defense ministry noted a potential blow to the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping. The strikes targeted over a dozen locations and aimed to weaken Houthi military capabilities.
The Houthi official referred to the attacks as “American-Zionist-British aggression,” confirming raids in several Yemeni cities. The ongoing strikes represent an escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the U.S. official stating they were not merely symbolic but intended to diminish Houthi military capabilities. The Houthis, controlling most of Yemen, ignored international calls to cease missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes.
The Houthi attacks, numbering 27 to date, disrupted global commerce on a key route between Europe and Asia. The group claims these actions in support of Hamas, which prompted Israel’s military assault on Gaza. The recent strikes came after a significant Houthi attack on Jan. 9, with the U.S. and British forces intercepting numerous drones and missiles. President Biden emphasized international support for the operation, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, outside the existing defensive coalition in the Red Sea.
