Title: US and UK Conduct Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen, Defending Critical Red Sea Waterway
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In a joint effort, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from several other countries, have carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The operation involved at least 30 targets spread across 10 different locations. Command and control centers, an underground weapons storage facility, and other weapon installations used by the Houthis to disrupt international shipping lanes were among the targets.
Issuing a warning to the Houthi leadership, the US and UK emphasized their commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commerce in the critical Red Sea waterway. The strikes were executed with the participation of two US destroyers and F/A-18 fighter jets deployed from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
The strikes come as part of the Biden administration’s “multi-tiered” response to a drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three US service members. While the US has been indirectly targeting Iranian-backed groups to send a message to Iran’s leadership, the strikes in Yemen are separate from recent attacks in Iraq and Syria that also targeted similar groups in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin explained that the strikes aimed to disrupt and weaken the capabilities of the Houthi militia. President Joe Biden authorized the strikes, emphasizing that they were a direct response to the actions of the Houthis.
Notably, the US conducted separate unilateral strikes in Syria and Iraq, hitting over 85 targets. The Biden administration has vowed to take further action against Iranian-backed groups in the region.
This is not the first time the US and the UK have jointly conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Previous strikes targeted weapons storage facilities and radar sites. Despite the strikes, the Houthis remain defiant, vowing to confront the “aggressors” from the US and UK.
In addition to these strikes, the US has also previously carried out smaller attacks on Houthi weaponry. These actions included shooting down drones that posed a threat to shipping lanes and warships.
The situation is evolving, and further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.