US and UK Launch Strikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen in Response to Attacks on US and Israeli Interests
In a new wave of attacks against the Iran-aligned Yemeni group, the United States and the United Kingdom have carried out strikes on Houthi-controlled positions in Yemen. These strikes come in response to the Houthi group targeting US and Israeli interests in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Houthi attacks on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea’s narrow strait of Bab al-Mandeb have disrupted global trade, prompting the US and the UK to take action. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also targeted a Houthi antiship missile that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have launched numerous missile, drone, and boat attacks on commercial ships linked with Israel since mid-November. Their goal is to stop Israel’s devastating war on Gaza and demand the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, where hunger is rampant among the 2.3 million population.
These strikes follow a US air assault in Iraq and Syria that targeted armed groups connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US retaliated for the killing of three soldiers in Jordan, blaming the attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-linked armed groups.
The US and the UK, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, launched “proportionate” attacks on 36 targets across 13 locations. The joint statement emphasized that these strikes aimed to degrade Houthi capabilities used in their attacks on US and UK ships and international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
The strikes were intended to deter Houthi attacks on US interests in the region. Weapons facilities, missile systems, launchers, air defense systems, and radar were targeted in the attacks, launched from ships and fighter jets.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed that the capital, Sanaa, and other rebel-held areas were targeted. The strikes hit multiple governorates, including Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, al-Bayda, Hajjah, and Sa’dah.
The Houthi group remains undeterred in their support for the Palestinian people and warned that these attacks will not go unanswered. They view the strikes as pressure on Israel to end its aggression on the people in Gaza and lift the blockade.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned the attacks on Yemen, stating that they undermine international peace and security. He accused the US and the UK of spreading chaos, disorder, insecurity, and instability by supporting Israel’s war crimes.
The US intends to carry out additional air strikes against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East to send a clear message that they will respond when their forces are attacked. The White House national security spokesperson also confirmed that the recent strikes were just the first round of action, with more to follow.
Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam warned that these attacks will pull the US and the UK into a quagmire in the region and fuel hatred among their people. He emphasized Yemen’s firm decision to support Gaza and called for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression and the lifting of the siege on Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will prioritize humanitarian issues in Gaza during his upcoming visits to Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding the war on Gaza are ongoing, with hopes that the latest Western attacks will not hamper the talks or lead to a wider regional escalation.
The attacks have faced strong condemnation from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and others. Russia has called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the situation. The international community is closely monitoring the developments and hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflicts in the region.