A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets, February 24, 2024. Cpl Tim Laurence RAF/UK MOD/Handout via REUTERS
U.S. and British military forces executed strikes against over a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, as confirmed by officials, marking the latest iteration of military intervention against the Iran-affiliated faction responsible for ongoing assaults on maritime vessels in the region.
The United States has been conducting frequent strikes against the Houthis, who exert control over densely populated regions of Yemen. The group has asserted that its assaults on maritime targets are in solidarity with Palestinians amidst Israeli actions in Gaza. Despite the persistent strikes, the Houthi attacks have persisted, causing disruptions to global trade and prompting escalations in shipping costs.
A joint communiqué issued by participating nations or supporters detailed the military operations against 18 Houthi targets spanning eight locations within Yemen. These targets included subterranean weapon and missile storage facilities, air defense systems, radar installations, and a helicopter. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that the strikes aimed to further impede and diminish the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.
Austin asserted, “We will continue to communicate to the Houthis the repercussions they will face should they persist in their unlawful attacks, which adversely impact economies in the Middle East, precipitate environmental harm, and obstruct the distribution of humanitarian assistance to Yemen and other afflicted nations.”
The military campaign received backing from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Al Masirah TV, the primary news outlet affiliated with the Houthi movement, reported that U.S. and UK forces conducted a series of strikes in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Quoting an unnamed Houthi military source, the outlet characterized the renewed raids as “a futile endeavor to impede Yemen’s provision of support operations to the Palestinian population in Gaza.”
Earlier in the week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an assault on a UK-owned cargo vessel and a drone attack targeting a U.S. destroyer. Additionally, they launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel’s port and resort city of Eilat. These actions have disrupted the crucial Suez Canal route, which facilitates approximately 12% of global maritime traffic, necessitating longer and more costly detours around Africa.
Although no vessels have been sunk nor crews harmed during the Houthi offensive, apprehension surrounds the fate of the UK-registered Rubymar cargo ship, which sustained damage on February 18, leading to the evacuation of its crew. According to U.S. military reports, the Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer at the time of the attack, raising concerns of potential environmental ramifications should the cargo spill into the Red Sea.
In response, the European Union has initiated a naval mission in the Red Sea with the objective of restoring and safeguarding freedom of navigation. Concurrently, the United States is leading a coalition under Operation Prosperity Guardian, which seeks to protect commercial traffic from Houthi assaults.
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