US, UK blast Houthi targets
WASHINGTON/ADEN, Yemen—The United States and Britain carried out strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen overnight in response to the movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, a regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the country, saying raids targeted a military base adjacent to Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah and military sites in Hajjah governorate.
“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Britain’s defense ministry said in a statement that “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow.” James Heappey, a junior defense minister, said the strikes were in self-defense and no further action was planned for now.
The strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, the US Air Forces Central Command said in a statement. Sixty targets at 16 Huthi locations were hit by more than 100 precision-guided munitions, it said.
A Houthi military spokesperson said 73 strikes killed five of the group’s fighters and wounded six others.
Threat of retaliation
The attacks would not go without “punishment or retaliation” and the group will continue to target ships headed for Israel, he said.
The Houthis, an armed movement that took control of most of Yemen over the past decade, have been attacking shipping at the mouth of the Red Sea—one of the world’s busiest trade lanes—since October. The action is in support of Hamas, they say.
The United States and allies have deployed a naval task force to the area to protect ships, and US and British warships shot down 21 drones and missiles on Tuesday to repel the biggest Houthi attack so far.
Iran, which supports armed groups around the Middle East including both the Houthis and Hamas, condemned the US and British attacks. A Houthi spokesperson said there was no justification for the attacks.
US defense Sec. Lloyd Austin, who is in hospital due to surgery complications, said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, costal radar and air surveillance.
A Houthi official confirmed “raids” in the capital Sanaa along with the cities of Saada and Dhamar as well as in Hodeidah governorate, calling them “American-Zionist-British aggression.”
Russia requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted international commerce, forcing some ships to take the long route around southern Africa, an increase in delivery costs and time that stoked fears of a new bout of global inflation.
Oil price riseThe price of oil rose sharply on concern that supplies could be disrupted. Brent crude rose $2. The United States said Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands supported the operation, part of an international effort to restore the free flow of trade.
The route, which links Europe and Asia and Africa via the Suez Canal, accounts for about 15 percent of the world’s shipping traffic.
The strikes, the first by the United States on Yemeni territory since 2016, were a clear demonstration of Washington’s struggle to contain the fallout of the Israel-Hamas war since it broke out in October.
“The concern is that this could escalate,” said Andreas Krieg at King’s College in London.
Saudi Arabia called for restraint and “avoiding escalation.” The Saudis have backed the opposing side in a war against the Houthis for nearly a decade, which has been in a delicate state of peace negotiations.
The United States also accused Iran of being involved operationally in the Houthi attacks, providing the military capabilities and intelligence to carry them out.
“We believe that they have been certainly involved in every phase of this,” a senior US official told reporters. —REUTERS
