CNN
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The US and UK have carried out attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen using air and surface platforms, such as fighter jets, along with support from other countries. According to two US officials, at least 30 targets were hit across 10 locations. These targets included command and control centers, an underground weapons storage facility, and other weapons utilized by the Houthis to threaten international shipping lanes.
A joint statement issued by the US and UK, along with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, emphasized the aim to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea while warning the Houthi leadership that they will continue to defend lives and the flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways. This comes after the US struck six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles before they could be launched toward the Red Sea, as confirmed by US Central Command.
The recent strikes follow a “multi-tiered” response adopted by the Biden administration in reaction to a drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three US service members and injuries to many more. The US has refrained from directly targeting Iran and instead focused on its powerful proxies in the region, aiming to convey a message to Iran’s leadership. These strikes in Yemen differ from those in Iraq and Syria, which were a response to ongoing Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes and US warships in the Red Sea and a retaliation for a deadly attack on US troops, respectively. Both actions target Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the recent strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Houthi militia. President Joe Biden approved the strikes, emphasizing that they are in direct response to the actions of the Houthis and are not intended to escalate tensions. The US also carried out separate, unilateral strikes against sites in Syria and Iraq, hitting more than 85 targets, including command and control centers, intelligence centers, and weapons facilities. The administration has pledged further actions against Iranian-backed groups in these countries.
The US and UK have previously carried out strikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi weapons storage facilities and radar sites. Despite these actions, the Houthis have remained defiant, vowing to confront the US and UK “aggressors.”
Additionally, the US has conducted smaller attacks on Houthi weaponry, including striking four Houthi drones and shooting down a total of eight drones over the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, emphasizing the imminent threat posed to shipping lanes and US warships.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Kaanita Iyer and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
