The Pentagon announced that United States along with the UK Armed Forces and other allies have conducted strikes on 18 Houthi sites in Yemen, marking the fourth joint operation by the allies.
According to US officials, Saturday’s strikes targeted storage facilities, drones, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter belonging to the Houthi militant movement.
It is pertinent to note that, the Red Sea, a vital trade route, has witnessed sustained attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on shipping.
Controlling significant parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, the Houthis have been targeting vessels they claim are associated with Israel and the West in response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. These attacks have led to disruptions in global supply chains, causing significant economic strain as major shipping companies reroute journeys away from the Red Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes globally.
In a joint statement, the Pentagon specified that Saturday’s strikes targeted 18 Houthi sites across eight locations in Yemen, including underground weapons and missile storage facilities, unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter.
The statement emphasized that these precise strikes aimed to disrupt and weaken the capabilities used by the Houthis to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of sailors in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
“The strikes were carried to defend ourselves, our partners, and allies in the region and restore freedom of navigation by destroying Houthi capabilities used to threaten U.S. and partner forces in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also highlighted the Houthis’ more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November, describing them as a threat to the global economy, regional security, and stability, necessitating an international response.
Furthermore, the statement noted that the strikes received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Following the strikes, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America’s commitment to defending lives and ensuring the free flow of commerce in critical waterways.
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation, highlighting the Royal Air Force’s engagement in the fourth wave of precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.
