In a joint military operation, the United States and the United Kingdom launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-based rebel group Houthis in Yemen. The move comes in response to the Houthi rebels’ claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against cargo ships and vessels transiting through the Red Sea, further intensifying conflicts in the region amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The airstrikes aimed to destroy Houthi bases in Yemen, targeting the source of the militant group’s attacks. Heavy explosions were reported in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a and the port city of Al Hudaydah following the strikes. The attacks were carried out shortly after the Biden administration issued warnings of consequences for the Houthi drone and anti-ship missile attacks that disrupted trade in the vital waterway.
The US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the airstrikes. The operation was authorized by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the US and the UK in responding to the Houthi threat.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recently concluded a multi-nation trip across the Middle East, had sought support for more aggressive action against the Houthi rebels. He had asserted that there would be consequences if the attacks at sea persisted, leading to the joint US-UK military response.
The Houthi rebels, based in Iran, claimed responsibility for multiple hijackings and attacks on vessels and cargo ships in the Red Sea, particularly those with perceived “Israel links.” The group expressed solidarity with Hamas in Palestine, vowing to target Israeli-linked or Israel-bound vessels in protest against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, some of the vessels targeted had no discernable connection to Israel.
The attacks in the Red Sea have significantly disrupted the global supply chain, impacting multiple countries and causing fluctuations in oil prices. The retaliatory strikes by the US and UK underline the international community’s commitment to maintaining maritime security and responding decisively to threats posed by the Houthi rebels.
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