US and UK Launch Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen to Counter Iran-Backed Groups
In a bid to weaken Iran-backed groups that have been relentlessly attacking American and international interests following the Israel-Hamas war, the United States and Britain have conducted strikes on 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. This marks the second wave of assaults against the Houthis, with the previous air assault targeting other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq and Syria. The strikes were carried out by warships and fighter jets.
The US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Houthi targets were located in 13 different locations. The strikes were executed by US F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, as well as by the USS Gravely and the USS Carney Navy destroyers firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea. The US had previously warned that its response to the deaths of three US troops in Jordan would not be limited to one night, one target, or one group.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that the military action, supported by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will face further consequences if they continue their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. He stated that the US will not hesitate to defend lives and ensure the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
The strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars. This is the third time that the US and UK have conducted a joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites, and drones. The objective of these strikes in Yemen is to hold Iran accountable for arming, funding, and training various militias responsible for attacks against US and international interests across the Middle East.
Video footage shared online captured the sound of explosions and showed at least one blast illuminating the night sky in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. The strikes were reported in multiple provinces, including al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz, and Sanaa. The Houthi attacks have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, resulting in longer and costlier journeys.
It is worth noting that the US has attributed the attack in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias. Iran has distanced itself from the drone strike, claiming that the militias act independently. While tensions remain high, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, expressed a desire to avoid escalating regional tensions.
The US and its allies are determined to protect commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea. About 400 commercial vessels typically navigate this route at any given time. The joint mission involves warships from participating nations providing air defense to ensure safe passage through this critical waterway.
In conclusion, the US and UK have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen as part of their efforts to counter Iran-backed groups. These strikes aim to deter further attacks on international shipping and naval vessels and hold Iran responsible for supporting militias across the Middle East. The US and its allies are committed to safeguarding the free flow of commerce in the region’s vital waterways.
