The United States and Britain launched air and sea strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which resulted in a dramatic regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza,
President Joe Biden warned in a statement late on Thursday that he would not hesitate to take further action if necessary, as witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the nation.
“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,” Biden stated.
In a statement, the British Ministry of Defence stated that “the Houthis appear to have gained the capacity to pose a threat to merchant shipping.”
The Houthis, who receive support from Iran, claim that their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes are an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and Hamas, the Islamist organisation in charge of Gaza.
The strikes were directed at Houthi capabilities, such as drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, costal radar, and air surveillance, according to a statement released by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in the hospital following complications from surgery.
“Raids” in the capital Sanaa, the cities of Saada and Dhamar, as well as the Hodeidah governorate, were confirmed by a Houthi official, who referred to them as “American-Zionist-British aggression.”
According to witnesses who spoke with Reuters, the raids were carried out against military installations in the Hajjah governorate, a military base next to Sanaa airport, a military site close to Taiz airport, and a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah.
