By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies 

THE PENTAGON — The United States, along with key allies including Britain, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain, has initiated a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, responding to numerous Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Late Thursday, U.S. Central Command announced that the joint operation had successfully targeted more than 60 locations in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. The strikes aimed at command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, radar installations, and air defense systems.

“We hit them pretty hard, pretty good,” a U.S. defense official, speaking anonymously, revealed details of the operation. The strikes utilized precision-guided munitions, with more than 100 dropped by the U.S. alone. Naval vessels and submarines also fired Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles during the operation.

The decision to launch these airstrikes came in response to a string of Houthi attacks on international shipping, raising concerns about the safety and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks have intensified, with the group deploying drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in recent weeks.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement from the White House, referred to the strikes as a “direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks” and emphasized the necessity of protecting international shipping and personnel. The strikes serve as a clear message that the U.S. and its partners will not tolerate threats to navigation in critical commercial routes, according to President Biden.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the Houthi attacks, describing them as destabilizing and jeopardizing lives at sea while exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The participation of British fighter jets in the joint strikes underscores the coordinated response by international allies.

This marks the first time that Houthi targets inside Yemen have been struck since the group began attacking ships in the Red Sea following Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7. The joint operation comes after the Houthis launched a complex attack earlier this week involving drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

U.S. officials are still assessing the impact of the strikes, but initial evaluations suggest a “significant” degradation of Houthi capabilities. The targeted locations were chosen based on their threat to shipping, and efforts were made to avoid civilian presence.

The joint operation follows warnings issued to the Houthis and Iran by multiple U.S. officials, emphasizing the consequences of their actions. Last week, the U.S. and 12 allies issued a statement cautioning the Houthis against continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

The U.N. Security Council also issued a resolution on Wednesday, urging the Houthis to cease their attacks immediately. However, questions persist about whether such statements and retaliatory strikes will deter Iran, which is believed to support the Houthi movement.

The situation in the region remains tense as the international community closely monitors developments in the aftermath of the joint airstrikes. While preparations are underway for potential Houthi responses, U.S. officials are alert to disinformation efforts attempting to distort the narrative surrounding the strikes. The impact of these airstrikes on deterring future Houthi attacks and maintaining maritime security in the region remains a key concern for the international coalition.