By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out a joint military operation, targeting more than a dozen Houthi sites in Yemen. The move comes in response to the increased attacks by the Yemeni rebel group on ships in the Red Sea, protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, US and UK officials confirmed the bombing of 18 Houthi sites across eight locations in Yemen. The targets included underground weapons and missile storage facilities, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. This marks the fourth joint attack against the Houthis by the US and UK since January 12.
Apart from the collaborative strikes, the US has been conducting nearly daily raids to eliminate Houthi targets, such as incoming missiles, rockets, and drones targeting commercial and naval vessels. Despite these efforts, Houthi attacks persist, causing disruptions in global trade and elevating shipping rates.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the latest wave of strikes aimed to “further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.” He emphasized the consequences the Houthis would face if they continued their illegal attacks, affecting Middle Eastern economies, causing environmental damage, and disrupting humanitarian aid delivery to Yemen and other nations.
The military action received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
In response, the Houthis expressed defiance. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the group, asserted that they would confront the American-British escalation with more military operations against hostile targets in the Red and Arab Seas. He emphasized the Houthis’ commitment to their duties towards the Palestinian people and declared that their military operations would persist until the aggression ceased, and the siege on the Gaza Strip was lifted.
According to The Associated Press, the Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 19. The frequency of these attacks has increased in recent days, posing challenges to maritime security in the region.