Late on Thursday, the United States and the United Kingdom executed strikes on numerous targets within Yemen, according to a statement by U.S. President Joe Biden.
These actions were taken in direct retaliation to unprecedented Houthi assaults on international maritime vessels, which, as stated by Biden, posed a significant threat to U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and allied nations. The strikes were specifically prompted by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, including the deployment of anti-ship ballistic missiles, marking the first instance in history. Biden emphasized that the international community has displayed a united and resolute response to these hazardous Houthi actions.
The military intervention is a direct reaction to the ongoing drone and missile attacks by the Houthi group in Yemen, supported by Iran. These attacks, initiated in November as a response to Israel’s conflict with Gaza, targeted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The Red Sea serves as a vital waterway for global trade, especially for the transportation of oil and fuel, linking the Suez Canal in Egypt to the Gulf of Aden through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The strategic importance of the Suez Canal allows vessels traveling between Europe and Asia to bypass the longer and more expensive route around the southern tip of Africa. According to the U.S. military, the Houthis have executed 27 attacks in the Red Sea since November 19.
The Al-Masirah TV channel, affiliated with the Houthi group, reported that the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, was under what they described as “American aggression.” Houthi leader Ali al-Qahoum asserted that the rebel faction was actively pursuing American and British naval vessels in the Red Sea as a response to Allied attacks. In contrast, a senior US military official, speaking anonymously to reporters, refuted any claims of retaliatory actions against US or coalition forces. The official emphasized the absence of observed retaliatory measures in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, or the Gulf of Aden. The overnight strikes, executed by air, surface, and subsurface forces, targeted multiple Houthi-controlled objectives, including missile, radar, and drone capabilities.
The senior administration official said that the rebel group posed an “unprecedented threat to global commerce,” justifying the strikes. The military source refrained from disclosing the specific percentage of Houthi capabilities destroyed, citing “operational security,” but emphasized that the inflicted damage was substantial. The stated objective of these strikes, as outlined by the president, was to eliminate the Houthis’ ability to target maritime vessels, whether commercial or military, in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, or the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have directed their focus towards ships in the southern Red Sea, issuing a warning that they will target all vessels traveling to or from Israel and those owned by Israeli companies. They justify these attacks as a means of supporting Palestinians facing what they describe as Israel’s “aggression and siege” in Gaza. In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced the establishment of a multinational mission to counter Houthi attacks.
Austin emphasized that the US and its coalition partners are sending a clear message to the Houthis that they will face additional consequences unless they cease their unlawful assaults. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands are conducting strikes as per the Biden administration. President Biden framed these actions as “defensive” measures following months of diplomatic efforts and the Houthi rebels’ increasing attacks on commercial vessels. He stressed that these targeted strikes convey a resolute message that the US and its allies will not tolerate attacks on their personnel or allow hostile actors to jeopardize the freedom of navigation in one of the world’s crucial commercial routes. Biden also asserted his willingness to implement further measures to safeguard people and ensure the unimpeded flow of international commerce.
In a joint statement, several nations, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the US, explained that the precise strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities used by the Houthis to threaten global trade and endanger the lives of international mariners in a vital waterway.
They framed the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November as an international challenge and highlighted the shared commitment among the involved countries to uphold freedom of navigation, international commerce, and the protection of mariners from unjustifiable and illegal attacks.
- Misleading Video Alters Prime Minister Shehbaz’s Speech Targeting Political Rival, Not His Party - 21/04/2024
- ATC Grants Three-Day Remand for Suspects in Ichhra Bazaar Harassment Case - 19/03/2024
- Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh Lead World in Severe Smog Crisis, Exceeding WHO Guidelines - 19/03/2024
