2024-01-12 15:12:00
The attacks by the United States and the United Kingdom provoke a strong response from the Houthis. This is what we know
A Western coalition aircraft takes off to carry out an attack on Houthi military targets in Yemen. (US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERS)
The joint US and UK strikes on Houthi targets on Thursday night marked a dramatic escalation in the West’s response to weeks of attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
They also provoked a harsh response from the Houthis, who quickly launched retaliatory attacks.
Here’s what you need to know this Friday:
Houthis swear revenge: Houthi forces launched retaliatory attacks against American and British warships in the Red Sea after attacks by the United States and its partners, a senior member of the group claimed early Friday. Meanwhile, the Houthi deputy foreign minister warned that the United States and the United Kingdom would face serious repercussions for what he called a blatant act of aggression.
US and UK attacks: The US and UK militaries launched strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday, marking a strong response following warnings from the Biden administration and its allies that the Iran-backed militant group should face the consequences of repeated drone and missile attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the joint strikes were “intended to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ ability to endanger sailors and threaten global trade.”
Multiple objectives: U.S. and coalition forces hit more than 60 Houthi targets in 16 locations in Yemen, U.S. Air Force Central Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich said. These include the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface ships, land attack cruise missiles, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities, Austin said in a statement. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attacks were aimed at degrading the Houthis’ military capabilities and safeguarding global shipping. Action was taken with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Five dead, Houthis say: The attacks killed five people and wounded six others, Houthi rebel military spokesman Yahya Sare’e said Friday. The Houthi spokesman also said they would continue their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, calling the attacks “barbaric.”
Attacks that lasted weeks: The barrage of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping on Tuesday marked the final straw for Biden, a senior US official told CNN. Biden said he ordered the strikes “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.” The Houthis have been attacking commercial shipping in the area for weeks. “That kind of behavior cannot continue,” British Prime Minister Sunak said on Friday.
Regional tensions: Iran, believed to have armed and trained the Houthis, condemned the joint attacks, saying they violated international law and “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen,” and warned they would fuel regional instability. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia urged restraint in the Red Sea. There are fears that the Houthi attacks could escalate Israel’s war against Hamas into a broader regional conflict.
Possible future attacks: There are no new attacks immediately planned by the United Kingdom, its government said Friday. But the joint attacks on Houthi positions may not be the last against the Iran-backed group, a senior U.S. administration official said, noting that more action may be needed to protect people and commerce in the Red Sea. “This may not be the last word on the issue,” the official said.
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