The United States and the United Kingdom have conducted a series of precision strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, marking the fourth joint operation by the allies to counter the surge in attacks by the Iran-backed group on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The coordinated military action underscores the escalated efforts to address threats to the vital waterways and uphold the free flow of global trade.
On Saturday, a coalition of forces including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand supported the strikes, which hit 18 Houthi targets across eight locations. The Pentagon stated that the airstrikes were a direct response to “the Houthis’ attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November,” which they see as “a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability.”
The military action targeted a variety of Houthi installations, ranging from underground weapons and missile storage facilities to air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, stressed the importance of these strikes, saying, “America will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”
In the past weeks, the US has engaged in over 30 self-defense strikes against Houthi weapons that were in a state of readiness to launch attacks on commercial or US Navy ships, as reported by the US Central Command. As part of an international response, US and UK forces have been determined to disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Houthis, who have continued to target vessels in the region despite the barrage of counterstrikes.
“The Houthis’ now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response,” Saturday’s joint statement read. “Our coalition of like-minded countries remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels.”
The defiant Houthis have linked their increase in maritime attacks to the Israel-Gaza conflict, vowing to persist in targeting ships aiding Israel’s military efforts. Despite the Houthis’ linkage to the conflict, many of the targeted vessels have no connection to Israel, as highlighted in the joint statement by the allies, which emphasized the need to protect freedom of navigation and international commerce.
U.K. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated that RAF Typhoon jets conducted “precision strikes” to weaken Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps noted this was in response to “serious Houthi assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, such as on the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, leading to the crew’s evacuation.” This marks the fourth occasion the UK has participated in the U.S.-led operations.
Relevant articles:
– US and UK carry out fresh strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen
– U.S. and U.K. conduct fourth round of joint airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, CBS News, Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:59:00 GMT
– US, UK bomb Houthi sites in Yemen amid surge in Red Sea ship attacks, Al Jazeera English, Sun, 25 Feb 2024 03:11:15 GMT
– US and British strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen answer militants’ surge in Red Sea attacks on ships, ABC News, Sat, 24 Feb 2024 23:15:00 GMT