In a new wave of attacks, the US, UK and allies launched airstrikes at multiple locations linked to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday.
"The U.S. and U.K. struck 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations in Yemen using missiles launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower," Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. He added that the US and the UK received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand in conducting the additional strikes.
"Militaries from the United States and United Kingdom conducted additional strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways," Austin said.
"These strikes are intended to disrupt further and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks against US and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea."
The targets include Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars. Over 24 aircraft took part in the raid, carrying 2,000-pound bombs, sidewinder air-to-air missiles and other precision-guided missiles. There is no word yet on any casualties.
"The strikes are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda," the statement said.
The Houthis have so far attacked over 30 commercial vessels and naval vessels since the Israel-Hamas broke out.
RAF Typhoon FRG4s being prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets | AP
The U.K. Ministry of Defense also released a statement, identifying the locations and targets of three strikes. One of the targets was As Salif, due west of Sanaa on the Red Sea coast where a ground control station was hit. The station was allegedly used to control Houthi drones that are launched further inland and carry out attacks over the sea against international shipping vessels.
"This is not an escalation," said British Defence Minister Grant Shapps. "We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis capabilities."
Eleven of the attacks targeted the Al-Barah area in the Maqbanah district and areas in the Haifan district, reported Reuters. The other target was Jabal Al-Jada' in Al-Lahiya district.
The Yemen strikes come as the U.S. retaliated against the killings of three American soldiers in a drone strike by Iran-backed militants on an outpost in Jordan. On Friday, it carried out strikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and militias it backs. Over 40 people were killed in the attacks.
This is also the latest in the series of more than a dozen strikes against Houthi targets in the past several weeks. However, these could not stop attacks on ships by Houthis. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba) confirmed the attacks on Saturday.
