Attacks by the United States and the United Kingdom provoked a strong response from the Houthis. This we know
Western coalition aircraft take off to attack Houthi military targets in Yemen. (US Central Command X/Handout via REUTERS)
Thursday night’s joint US and UK strikes on Houthi targets 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 counterattacks.
Here’s what you need to know this Friday:
The Houthis vow 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 consequences for what he called an innocent act of aggression.
US and UK attacks: The US And UK troops 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 must face the consequences of repeated drone and missile strikes. Attacks on merchant 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 seafarers and threaten global trade.”
Multiple Objectives: U.S. Air Force Central Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grinkevich said. And coalition forces have hit more than 60 Houthi targets in 16 locations in Yemen. These include the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface ships, land attack cruise missiles and coastal radar and aerial surveillance capabilities, Austin said in a statement. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attack was aimed at destroying the Houthis’ military capabilities and securing global shipping. The action was supported by Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Five dead, Houthis say: Houthi rebel military spokesman Yahya Sare said on Friday that five people were killed and six others wounded in the attack. A Houthi spokesman also said they would continue their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, calling the attacks “barbaric”.
Attacks that last for weeks: Tuesday’s barrage of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping 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. “This kind of behavior cannot continue,” British Prime Minister Sunack said on Friday.
Regional tension: Iran, believed to be arming and training the Houthis, condemned the joint attacks, saying they violated international law and “Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and warned they would fuel regional instability. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia urged restraint in the Red Sea. There are fears that Houthi attacks could turn Israel’s war against Hamas into a wider regional conflict.
Possible future attacks: No new attacks are immediately planned by the United Kingdom, its government said on Friday. But the concerted attacks on Houthi positions may not be the last against the Iran-backed group, a senior US administration official said, adding that more measures may be needed to protect people and commerce in the Red Sea. “This cannot be the last word on the issue,” the official said.
