Article Summary
The US and UK militaries have launched strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Yemen, in response to the group’s continued attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The strikes, which targeted radar systems, drone storage and launch sites, and missile storage and launch sites, were a significant response after warnings from the Biden administration and its allies that the Houthis would face consequences for repeated drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes mark the first known attack on the Houthis in Yemen.
US and UK Launch Strikes against Houthi Targets in Yemen
The US and UK militaries conducted strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Yemen on Thursday, according to US and UK officials. These strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, hitting over a dozen Houthi targets.
Strategic targets included radar systems, drone and missile storage, and launch sites. This is a significant response to the Iran-backed militant group’s repeated drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
These strikes illustrate the growing international concern over the threat to this crucial waterway. Despite previous attempts to avoid direct strikes on Yemen due to potential escalation, the persistent Houthi attacks on international shipping forced the coalition to act.
Senior US administration officials briefed congressional leadership on these plans earlier Thursday. During this period, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery.
The strikes are the first against the Houthis in Yemen, amidst escalating tension in the Middle East. The continued Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping routes, leading to considerable detours.
Houthi Response and International Reactions
Before the strike, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder warned Iran has a role to play to stop the Houthis, threatening that there would be consequences otherwise. In response, Houthi leader Abdul Malek Al-Houthi warned that any US attack would not go unanswered.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his regional travel, warned of consequences if the attacks don’t stop. He visited Bahrain, home to the US Naval Forces Central Command and the Navy’s Fifth Fleet. During his trip, he conveyed that any US military action against the Houthis should be viewed as defensive, not escalatory.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed political and military organization, have been launching drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea for weeks. These attacks are in support of Hamas’ fight against Israel in Gaza.
UN Resolution and Previous US Strikes
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council passed a US- and Japan-led resolution condemning Houthi attacks on commercial vessels since November 19, 2023. The US has conducted nearly 400 airstrikes in Yemen since 2002, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Despite the warnings and consequences mentioned in a joint statement by the US and its allies, Houthi attacks continue. The group has launched an unmanned surface drone against commercial shipping lanes and attempted to board commercial vessels.
The Houthis have launched at least 27 attacks since November 19, while at least 131 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have occurred since October 17. Houthi attacks began shortly after the start of the war in Gaza, targeting ships tied to Israel.
Read More US Political News
This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
