US & UK Airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen: Securing Red Sea
The US and UK carried out new air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting eight locations, including an underground storage site and Houthi missile capabilities. The strikes aim to safeguard the Red Sea's free flow of commerce.
The Pentagon emphasized the goal of de-escalating tensions while warning the Houthi leadership against threatening lives and commerce.
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This marks the eighth US strike on Houthi targets in Yemen and the second joint operation with the UK. The strikes had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. US fighter jets and RAF Typhoons participated, using precision-guided bombs to minimize civilian risks.
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps described the strikes as self-defense against intolerable Houthi attacks on merchant shipping. The operation, named Poseidon Archer, follows earlier strikes and aims to degrade Houthi capabilities.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported strikes in Sanaa, Taiz, and Bayda provinces. Despite previous strikes, the Houthis remain defiant, launching projectiles at ships. Operation Poseidon Archer targets Houthi launch sites, with Western intelligence estimating the destruction of at least 30% of Houthi missile stocks.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, persist in attacks on shipping linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. This stance garners domestic support and aligns with their backing of Hamas as part of the Iran-backed ‘Axis of Resistance' against Israel.
US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed Iranian-backed Houthi attacks, emphasizing the commitment to freedom of navigation and international commerce. They also highlighted the need for increased humanitarian aid, civilian protection in Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Houthis initiated attacks in response to Israel's military operation in Gaza, targeting commercial tankers in the Red Sea. Previous strikes, supported by multiple countries, followed Houthi non-compliance with an ultimatum to cease attacks. The US and UK responded with air strikes on January 11.
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